The Perfect Playlist- Rena Childers

Motivational songs:

Although a few of these songs may not be the traditional idea of motivational, to me they are very much so. The songs in this list do not all belong to one genre of music, but I believe they work very well together.

Apparently-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7j5UZUkB40

            Being a big fan of J. Cole, this song was one of the first that popped in my head. It has a motivational, upbeat tempo that immediately pulls the audience in. I love the way this song sounds/makes me feel so I felt it necessary to add. It fades out, leading straight into the next song.

I Can Ride my Bike with No Handlebars - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLUX0y4EptA

            I added this song not only because it is a fantastic, underrated song, but also because I think it fits nicely with this playlist. This song adds a soft beginning so as to allow time for the playlist to build. It starts out softly then crescendos to a loud motivational peak and finally ends softly. The end mends nicely into the next song.

Doses and Mimosas-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfTje59G-4I

            This is one of my all time favorite songs. It is not a typical motivational song but for me it is quite effective. This has a nice easygoing but fun tune that works perfectly in the middle of this playlist. It adds a bit of an electronic sound to diversify this list.

Rigamortis-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Niu9KMEGsx4

            This has been a long time favorite of mine and brings in Kendrick Lamar who I think is incredible. Kendrick’s flow in this song is incredible and ends on a positive note. The upbeat sound moves perfectly into Kanye’s masterpiece.

Jesus Walks-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmHp3ZTAbH4

            Jesus Walks was my favorite song all throughout my childhood and continues to hold a place in my heart. Kanye’s confidence illustrated by the fact that he refers to himself as Jesus is inspirational. I feel like this song completes the short journey this playlist hopes to create for its listeners.

And just a side note: this song does not go along with this particular playlist, I would highly recommend everyone listen to Zeds Dead & Omar LinX - No Prayers!!

The Perfect Playlist - Beck Michul

Ehemm...*pops fingers, cracks knuckles* Here we go!

Today I bring to you the perfect playlists (which are in every way flawed, but what're you gonna do?) The first one contains songs with the fastest rapping that I could think of. I'm sure there are plenty more songs with even faster rapping, but I couldn't think of them. Trust me, they're ridiculously fast, like, that ____ cray.

Fast Rap: http://open.spotify.com/user/greatnokid/playlist/5nth6hfxxowcnyNBWv3qXd
This playlist consists of these songs:
-Alphabet Aerobics - Blackalicious
     -This is not only a fast rap song, it also contributes to the playlist by being a solid intro. This is because the song starts of slowly and gains in speed as the song goes on. It also is a very hard song to rap along with.
-Slow Jamz - Twista, Kanye West, Jamie Foxx
     -This song is kind of ironic because you wouldn't expect a song named "Slow Jamz" to have fast rapping, but this song proves you wrong. Twista slays in the second half of the song. Again, very fast, but a speed between the previous and the next song.
-Look At Me Now - Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Busta Rhymes
    -:O BUSTA THO!!!!11!!!1!!! I consider this the climax of the playlist, because every artist can rap insanely fast and it's probably tied for the fastest rap song of the playlist.
-For Free? (Interlude) - Kendrick Lamar
     -Okay, so this isn't necessarily one of the fastest rap songs ever created, it's more of a tribute to Kendrick and his new album To Pimp A Butterfly. (Attention. Mr. Logsdon. Do. Not. Listen!) He does spit or whatever he does. This is also a nice pace down from the last song, but what's coming next you might not be ready for.
-Worldwide Choppers - Tech N9ne, and many others
     -Everyone on this song...just crazy....Twista again...I don't know what to say

Okay that's the first playlist        w OAH
Now it's time to slow it down a little bit. You're probably exhausted after that so we're gonna do our second playlist flowing off of that. I call it "chilaxxx". Completely original amirite?

chilaxxx:
Track 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cuOAN80iSE
Tracks 1,2,4,5: http://open.spotify.com/user/greatnokid/playlist/0BrXLZ0OfSKw9ObG6OQLhq
These songs tho:
-Lovely Bloodflow - Baths
     -Since we just came off of a fast beat, we can't slow it down completely. So we'll throw in a little more upbeat-ish chill song. Very abstract, but a sweet beat.
-Avril 14th - Aphex Twin
     -We're starting to slow it down more. Very chill. How long you play piano? All day.

-Track 09 - Macintosh Plus

     -So we've come to a complete and utter halt. Probably the chillest you'll get. Besides the sound of nothing. Just close your eyes and sink into the sounds. Pure ecstasy.

-I Mind - James Blake

     -Okay, that last one was relaxing, but we're not tryna go to sleep. Let's speed it back up with this trill song by James Blake. Weird, but really good.

-Wait - M83

     -Okay the last song. Starts of quiet and relaxing. Piano starts to build up. Vocals start to build up. Noises build up. "NO TIME!" Love it. Comes to a calming and smooth end. Wraps up everything, especially the playlist.

                            

So That's Me.

Assignment 23: the perfect playlist

A Blast From the Past

"High Fidelity" (2000) was a film that was remarkably ahead of its time. The film tells the story of Rob Gordon, a washed-up music junkie (played by the fantastic John Cusack) who spends his days creating perfect 5 song playlists. There's his playlist for his worst break up ever, his playlist of the top 5 soul tracks released between 1955 and 1965, and his playlist for his ex-girlfriend's dad's funeral.

Today, thanks to Spotify,  Limewire, iTunes, the "genius" Itunes feature, and Pandora, creating a "perfect" playlist has never been easier.

On the other hand, Rob probably would be appalled by the slapdash way some of us throw together any group of songs above a certain tempo before we head to the gym, or take all those below a certain tempo and thoughtlessly label it “chillaxxx.” As Rob forewarned, “The making of a good compilation tape is a very subtle art. Many do’s and don’ts. You’re using someone else’s poetry to express how you feel. This is a delicate thing.”

So for this blog assignment, create a "perfect" playlist for something. It could be your perfect playlist to listen to at the gym (boring!), perfect playlist for a rainy day, perfect playlist for anything. . . be as creative as you can. Once you have chosen a topic, select 5 tracks for this playlist, noting the song and artist, and write a few sentences explaining why you chose this song, what this song adds to your playlist, why you put it where you did, and how it works with the other songs you selected to create a cohesive perfect playlist.

If you want link it to a spotify playlist and share a link.

Minimum of 150 words - due Sunday, April 12th at 11:59 pm

(Last day to turn in make up assignments 21-23)

entry inspired by John Cowgill

Fictional Character - Charlie Blondell

Any fictional character... Well, there's many options. I could go with the classic Luke Skywalker, fighting off the evils of the Empire. Maybe James Bond, the ruthless but wooing spy. I could be Ricky Bobby; Shake 'n Bake baby. Many fictional characters portray one role, one emotion, one persona. I'll have to go with a character I believe represents the good and bad in all of us: Mr. Walter White. For those who don't know, Walt is the leading actor in the beloved AMC drama Breaking Bad. As a high school chemistry teacher, Walt pursues life on the basic, grounded American pattern of stability, comfort, and assurance. However, after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, he takes a turn for the, some might say, worse. Realizing that he doesn't have the money he would like to leave his wife and son, Walt needs to find a new, quick, and easy source of income. After going on a meth-lab bust with his brother-in-law, he finds an interest in this "field of study," and when he learns how profitable the business can be, he aspires to be one of the top dealers in the region. The show illustrates how a normal nobody can completely change their way of life and what leads to these rational decisions. It shows how anyone can be drawn down a dark path for what they believe are valid reasons. Walt has good moments, loving his family and using his "hard-earned" money towards their best interests. He also has bad, becoming so consumed in his new hobby that his fondness of the meth business quickly develops into harsh greed. Walter White is one thing: a man. Just like all of us, we have our struggles and our successes. He shows us what we already know, that sometimes, even when it seems like all hope is lost, life will have meaning. You will find it and make it worthwhile (This doesn't mean go start a meth business).

Assignment 22: Fictional Character, Fictional Life- Ji-Hae Kim

If I could be any fictional character, I would want to be a character in a Korean drama. Maybe Jan Keun Suk from Beethoven Virus. Why? Because their lives are interesting. Their lives aren't like the typical going to school and getting a job. Drama and conspiracies interweave in their lives. Jan Keun Suk's character is the underdog who overcomes all obstacles. He became what others told him he couldn't be. He got to live a life of devastating failure and amazing success--not just a boring everyday straightforward life. The world of Beethoven Virus is extremely competitive and success leads to a life of fame. I wouldn't want to live in that world if I were just me. That would be stressful and terrifying. But if I were Jan Keun Suk in that world, I would stand on top at the end. If I could be a fictional character in a fictional life, I would be him.

Assignment 22: Lucas Soard, Fictional Character, Fictional Life

If I could be any fictional character, I think a good choice would be Ron Burgundy from the Anchorman movies. Burgundy has it all. He’s has great hair, a great sense of style, and is “kind of a big deal.”  His best friend is Baxter, the dog. Baxter speaks, but Ron is the only one who understands. Ron Burgundy is co-anchor of the San Diego Channel 4 news, sharing that title with his wife, the gifted Veronica Corningstone. If I could be San Diego’s greatest News anchor, I would have Brian Fantana, Champ Kind, and Brick Tamland on my side. Those 3 coworkers support Ron even when he curses on live television and turns to milk to drown his sadness. Even Ron’s enemies, led by Wes Mantooth of Channel 9, respect him. Ron Burgundy lives the American Dream, and I don’t know what could be better than that.

Assignment 22 - Aislinn Langley

What fictional character would I be? This is a difficult question since the vast majority of my favorite fictional characters end up dying in horrible, depressing ways. But of those that survive mostly intact, it comes down to Pippin from Lord of the Rings. Frankly, a large part of my reasoning comes from the fact that I would honestly give my ring finger (too soon?) to live in Middle Earth. And I want not just to live in Middle Earth, but to be able to travel it and take part in an adventure as grand as Pippin's. Why not another member of the fellowship then? What I really admire about the little fool of a Took is his innocence and growth. Through his travel with and without the rest of the Fellowship, he grows out of his tendencies to be curious to a fault and learns about honor and sacrifice and friendship and all those other life lessons one learns on adventures and quests. I appreciate the way Pippin learns to be a hero by himself and discovers he can function without Merry or others. He redeems himself for at first being somewhat goofy and careless and garners respect for his actions. I would want to be Peregrin Took because he manages to have one of (in my opinion) the most interesting stories in the series and grows the most while still maintaining his optimism and status as a fan favorite.

Assignment 22: Beck Michul Fictional Character, Fictional Life

Considering the vast amount of fictional media that I have either read or viewed, this choice is a hard one. Out of all of the fictional characters, I think I am able to narrow it down to Finn from the Cartoon Network show Adventure Time. The reason that I have picked such an unusual character is because of the life he has. Finn and his dog/friend Jake have massive adventures nearly every day and their life never seem to get boring and that is something I would like to achieve. Not only can they travel to many different lands and environments, they can merely stay in the comfort of their own treehome and acquire maximum happiness and fun. Ain't that the life. Additionally, Finn's imagination is beyond explanation and therefore he is always able to conjure up some activity to indulge in, and I find that trait admirable. So out of all of the fictional characters I know of, I would choose to be Finn from Adventure Time.

Fictional Character, Fictional Life

If I could be any fictional character, I would be Phoebe from Friends. I love her weirdness and her perception of the world, but those aren’t the reasons I chose her. Phoebe is incredibly good at being happy, even when terrible things happen to her. Her mother committed suicide and she had to live on the streets for a while but she isn’t bitter about it. She doesn’t complain all the time or walk around moping for her whole life. She remains a genuinely happy person despite all of her struggles. She doesn’t waste all her time wondering why these terrible things had to happen to her of all people; instead she just lives her life happily with her best friends in New York City. I do have to say, though, I also want to be her because it would be so interesting to have all of her thoughts. Based on the things she actually says out loud, it would be fascinating to see what else she thinks.

Right Now- Jamie Smith

At this very moment, somewhere in the universe a star is being born. Somewhere else another star is falling and somewhere else two asteroids are colliding. Somewhere in the universe living beings are going about their daily lives, not thinking about the stars being born or falling or the asteroids colliding. But somewhere in the universe these living beings are thinking about the stars and the planets and the asteroids. So many things, so many thoughts, and so many lives are happening in so many places in the universe that comprehending them all is impossible. Even trying to just makes you realize how small and insignificant you are in the grand scheme of things. It doesn’t matter, though. We humans are too focused on our own tiny, inconsequential lives to realize how tiny and inconsequential they really are. That’s why it doesn’t matter. We don’t care enough to make it matter. But that doesn’t change the fact that somewhere in the universe a star is being born, and somewhere else a star is falling.

Assignment 22- Sam Vandiver

     This is a tough question for me, because most of my favorite characters are ones that face great amounts of adversity and hardships. I know that I, however, would not last a single minute in any of their shoes. This is why I am going to be boring and say that I would be Batman. Or, rather, I would be Bruce Wayne. Batman was trained to be a ninja and is in nearly superhuman physical condition, but how often would this be useful to me? No, I would give up the cowl and cape and become a billionaire instead. This may be seen as irresponsible, as it would mean abandoning Gotham to the clutches of the many supervillains that plague it. However, I believe that with his resources, Bruce Wayne could create a number of institutions and organizations that would combat poverty, mental illness, and general crime. The supervillains could be easily handled by Superman, as Metropolis is not far at all from Gotham. This would leave me to live the life of ease as an incredibly rich, smart, and successful person. Plus, Alfred is really cool.

Afterthought: I completely forgot that Batman's parents are dead. I'll just pretend I'm choosing a Batman that became a superhero after being really into flying mammals as a kid, and not because of the whole origin story with the dead parents.

Fictional Character, Fictional Life- Rena Childers

This writing prompt is especially difficult for me because the more I read in a book or watch in a movie, the more attached I become to the characters. After careful contemplation, I have narrowed it down to two characters: Phoebe from Friends and Sophie from Mamma Mia. I chose these two because both characters portray a sense of freedom of the mind and the heart. Phoebe and I are similar in that we both believe very strongly in “signs” given by the universe. I am not religious, but I strongly believe in the relevance of horoscopes and magic. I envy her confidence and relaxed approach to life. On a different note, Sophie lives the life I wish I could. She lives on an island in Greece with her mother and fiancée and spends her time singing and swimming. At the end of Mamma Mia, she sails into the night with her fiancée to explore the world, something I have always dreamed of. Both characters encapsulate everything I wish I was. 

assignment 20- how to... Vincent Pisacano

today i will be teaching all of you how to play a game called water pong (not to be confused with the very illegal and very irresponsible game of beer pong, instead exchange the beer with water and you have a friendly responsible game.) so here is how us responsible academy children play. each team has two players, and are on opposite sides of a ping pong table without a net. on each end there are 10 plastic cups arranged in a triangle. each team gets a shot per person to make it in the cups. if both teammates make a shot on the same turn, they get another turn. if an individual player makes 3 cups in a row or more, he is then "on fire" and after he states this he may get another shot. bounce shots count for 2 cups but can be blocked by the opposing team. also, if both teammates hit the exact same cup on the same turn, it is known as a "dead cup" and that team wins the game. whichever team hits all the 10 cups first wins the game and stays on the table to face another two opponents and the game goes on and on. substitute the water for fruit punch to really get the party going!!!

assignment 19- plastics Vincent Pisacano

i am not much of a person to take advice unless its from a sports coach. i am a stubborn individual i know that and the people who know me know that. but one piece of advice that really stuck with me, if there is any, would be my dad saying "worry about yourself." every day when i was young i would see that my sister just got a new bike. both my brothers just got new ipods. where is my ipod? where is my bike? how come martha (my sister) gets to sit there and watch me and my brothers clean the kitchen while she does nothing? that isnt fair. "because i said so," he would say. but from then on i was raised to only worry about myself and what i had, rather than what everyone else had compared to me. so i grew up with the attitude that nothings going to get done for me, that i have to take control of my own life if i want to change it. it ultimately led me to become a more individualistic and self-reliant person.

assignment 18- Buckets and Buckets Vincent Pisacano

first bucket list item before high school:  This is a tough question.. if there was one thing i could do before i am out of highe school it would be to go skiing out west again. ive been once before, to Colorado with my family, and it was an amazing experience. i had gotten good enough to where i was going on black diamonds on west Virginia slopes, which is not that great of a feat. but after going out west i realized it was a whole new experience. the snow was fresh and powdered and there were multiple feet of it. the slopes were as wide as they were long. after a couple of days i adapted to the new style of skiing and had the time of my life. going again would be amazing.

before College: this is kind of cliche so sorry but all i can think of would be to be on a path to a career that pays well and that im actually interested in. 

Before I die: if i could do anything before i died it would be to become a world class ping pong player. i dont know why to be honest it just looks so fun. and i love ping pong. 

assignment 16: Horray for Hollywood Vincent Pisacano

Christopher Nolan is a phenomenal director. two movies that he has directed that i thoroughly enjoyed are The Dark Knight and the Dark Knight Rises. there has been much controversy over which is the better movie. while most would say the Dark Knight trumps the Dark Knight Rises, i respectfully disagree with this popular notion. The Dark Knight has better acting, especially that of the villain. the role of the joker was played so well its almost unbelievable. but the dark knight rises still doesnt fall short, the acting is still amazing, and i personally love the villian Bane. but as for the stories, i just think The Dark Knight rises is a better plot. i was much more emotionally attached to the Dark Knight Rises. for example when Bruce Wayne must climb out of the prison pit with all the prisoners chanting him on. incredibly powerful scenes like this are what give Christopher Nolan's films an emotional appeal, and especially in the Dark Knight rises.

Assignment 22- David chen

Most authors write fiction books that have the same basic plot structure. Its always the main character overcoming some seemingly insurmountable obstacle and defeating the bad guy with all odds stacked against them. I wouldn't want to be that person having to go through so much trauma and drama to achieve a goal bigger than oneself. Instead of Harry Potter, make me a side character like Ron. Doing less earns you less but I'd be pretty content with coming out on top and not having to get all the crap dumped on me and having to turn to others to sift through the garbage. Even though, probably some day later I'll change my mind since I am not set in stone in this.

Fictional Character, Fictional Life - Weiran Liu

      If I could be any fictional character I think I would choose to be Bartimaeus. In middle school I came across this character when reading the trilogy (I recently reread the prequel to the series which could be a reason why I am picking him). He is a djinn , in other words a spirit of relative strength and wit. But it’s not the ability to shape shift and use magic that appeals to me the most. He lives indefinitely and works (at first he describes his work as being enslaved) alongside rulers of some of the greatest civilizations throughout history. It would be incredibly amazing to see all of those kingdoms, structures, and people at their prime. Aside from the time spent on earth, he also has an escape in the “Other Place” which sometimes I wish I could have when all the stresses of daily life hit me. He doesn’t necessarily have an easy-going life, but always employs wit to outsmart his opponents. Being Bartimaeus would be living the life of a character which gets to experience all aspects of life – beauties of cultures and natural wonders, companionship, hard work, sorrows and hardships, etc. – while having the added benefit of magic and flying, which on its own is pretty great.

Assignment 22: Sloan Warner

Though there is a long list of fictional characters who I would like to be, if I had to choose one, it would probably be Harvey Specter from the TV show Suits. There are quite a few reasons why I would like to be Harvey. First of all, he gets all of the babes on the TV show (keep in mind, there are many attractive girls on the show). Secondly, Harvey is able to get out of every situation ever presented to him. When there is a roadblock, he finds a way around it at all costs. If the world was in danger of being hit by a giant meteor, I honestly think Harvey could prevent it from hitting us. Moreover, he holds friendships close to his heart and will help them whenever, wherever at all cost.  He is the ultimate stand-up gentleman who I aspire to be and living the attractive lifestyle I aspire to live.

Assignment 21: Sloan Warner

As humans, we are almost always thinking about ourselves. What am I going to do next? When is MY next meal? When you are always thinking about yourself, it can be a little mind-blowing to take a few steps back and realize that you aren't the only person on this planet, much less this universe. People are completing their day on the other side of the earth from where you are sleeping. There are close to 8 billion humans on this planet who all have their own minds and lives. Somewhere on this planet, there is a child in Africa whose mother died of Ebola and doesn't know when their next meal will be. Somewhere else, there is a millionaire who just retired and is resting back on their newly purchased yacht and enjoying life. This goes to show that life is not fair, but that discussion is for another snowy day. What I mean is that everything happening on Earth is minuscule in terms of our universe. In the end, everything you do and accomplish will be something that happened on some tiny planet.