I Heart Sharks

Even the really frickin' scary ones:




TOKYO, Japan (Reuters) -- A species of shark rarely seen alive because its natural habitat is about 2,000 feet under the sea was captured on film by staff at a Japanese marine park this week.

The Awashima Marine Park in Shizuoka, south of Tokyo, was alerted by a fisherman at a nearby port on Sunday that he had spotted an odd-looking eel-like creature with a mouthful of needle-sharp teeth.

Marine park staff caught the 5 foot (1.6 meter) long creature, which they identified as a female frilled shark, sometimes referred to as a "living fossil" because it is a primitive species that has changed little since prehistoric times. (Watch divers swim with bizarre, ailing shark )

The shark appeared to be in poor condition when park staff moved it to a seawater pool where they filmed it swimming and opening its jaws. (Photo gallery: More pictures of this odd creature of the deep)

"We believe moving pictures of a live specimen are extremely rare," said an official at the park. "They live between 1,968 and 3,280 feet (600 and 1,000 meters) under the water, which is deeper than humans can go."

"We think it may have come close to the surface because it was sick, or else it was weakened because it was in shallow waters," the official said.

The shark died a few hours after being caught.

Frilled sharks, which feed on other sharks and sea creatures, are sometimes caught in the nets of trawlers but are rarely seen alive.

Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Ah, Sloths

Scientists Can't Get Sloth to Move

JENA, Germany (AP) -- Scientists in the eastern German city of Jena said Wednesday they have finally given up after three years of failed attempts to entice a sloth into budging as part of an experiment in animal movement.

The sloth, named Mats, was remanded to a zoo after consistently refusing to climb up and then back down a pole, as part of an experiment conducted by scientists at the University of Jena's Institute of Systematic Zoology and Evolutionary Biology.

Neither pounds of cucumbers nor plates of homemade spaghetti were appetizing enough to make Mats move.

"Mats obviously wanted absolutely nothing to do with furthering science," said Axel Burchardt, a university spokesman.

Mats' new home is the zoo in the northwestern city of Duisburg where, according to all reports, he is very comfortable.

© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.

HOchie 1 thinks maybe pork rinds should have been used to lure said sloth out of the tree.

The Only Reason To Go To California:

Rage On at Coachella

by Natalie Finn
Mon, 22 Jan 2007 06:02:00 PM PST

Apparently it's not much fun raging against the machine all by one's self.

So, in the spirit of unified revolution-sparking, the pioneering Los Angeles quartet Rage Against the Machine is reuniting to co-headline the 2007 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival Apr. 27-29 in Indio, California.

Frontman Zack de la Rocha, guitarist Tom Morello, bassist Tim Commerford and drummer Brad Wilk haven't shared a stage since September 2000. The following month, de la Rocha announced he had split from the group, saying that, although he was quite proud of what they had accomplished, Rage's "decision-making process" had "completely failed."

The dreadlocked musician-activist has kept a far lower profile than his former band mates, who joined up with ex-Soundgarden leader Chris Cornell to form Audioslave. Instead de la Rocha has kept busy recording tracks with the likes of DJ Shadow, Trent Reznor and British act Reprazent, and, although rumors of a solo album haven't come to fruition yet, his tune "We Want It All" showed up on the Songs and Artists that Inspired "Fahrenheit 9/11" soundtrack.

While there's no word on whether the Coachella gathering will lead to more joint appearances, a single line on de la Rocha's Website, which is currently under construction, reads, "Rage Reunion, yea!" A simple sentiment, yet one that pretty much says it all as far as the band's fans are concerned.

"You can not understate their influence on where music went after them," Goldenvoice promoter Bill Fold, who's helping to produce this year's Coachella, told the Riverside Press-Enterprise . "Their sound as well as their message has a lot of deep-rooted meaning for a lot of musicians and fans…This is huge."

This year marks the first time the increasingly popular music fest in the SoCal desert has been spread out over three days. Rage, which headlined the first Coachella back in 1999, will top the bill on Sunday Apr. 29.

The main stage will also play host to repeat headliners Björk (2002) on Friday and Red Hot Chili Peppers (2003) on Saturday.

Also letting bygones be bygones for at least one night this year are the Australia-based showmen of Crowded House, who haven't performed live since 1996, and Scottish alt-rockers the Jesus and Mary Chain, who haven't appeared together since a messy gig at L.A.'s House of Blues in 1998, after which guitarist William Reid left the band; the remaining members went their separate ways the following year.

- 2007, EOnline Article

And no HOchie 1, it's not the re-union of Crowded House.

People! April 27-29th! Rage Against The Machine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We need to be all over this!

There are two other reasons (for me to go at least and they are Tool and the Arctic Monkeys) but I'm sure the rest of you can find others in the extensive line up to make this trip.

But putting all that aside, it's all about FRICKIN' RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE!!!!!!!!!!!

Doing This Once a Week, With One Blog Per Episode...Kind of Sucks

And there's the review of Curtis getting shot down again. Har Har Har.

Note: SPOILER. Again.

There's No "Jack Snack" but I did eat some curried chicken, rice and roti right before the beginning of this episode. Oh and spirits cake.

10 AM to 11 AM:

I sense my old Chloe coming back. I like it.

Wait, wtf, how did Fayed get the hell out of there?

Jack Bauer can climb a roof like nobody's business. Ummm...wasn't there another guy in that helicopter? I missed that.

Bill left Assad hanging. Do you think Chloe will take it upon herself to taser him this season? I think she should do that every season now.

Okay. I don't think Jack can properly interrogate Donald. That's just ridiculous. Oh, Donald isn't actually playing his father. har har.

WTF!!!!!!!!!!! One-armed dead doctor is Jack's brother?! WTF!!!
I have to say though, Jack totally got the goo' looks in the family.

Words you should never say to Jack Bauer, "I swear it on my family's life." Yep. Because as we all know, Jack likes to get trigger happy with your family.

The Photo Post of Bauer Family Love I:



Head Count: update - no less than 12,000 from the nuclear blast including all field teams from CTU.

Y&M&M

The HOchies present to you, The HOchies and You Guys M&M Style:

*note: if you need to see a bigger pic, just click

HOchie 1 as The Amazing EarthMuffin Like You Wouldn't Believe:



Or 2 as Uber Sugarlump Con Carne:



Baby B as Li'l Baby Ninjaboy:



Lou as Senor Wheels El Fuego:



Bughie J. as Captain Marmoset The Proud:



Char Kar as Field Marshall Lanksta The Grey:



Beetchie as Ultra Monkey Zen Master:



Battler as Duke G-Money 3000:



MC as Brother Playa Like A Fox:



TD5 as Cousin Wildman The Mysterious:



SF as Mr. Chuckles Your Humble Servant:



X as Princess Sparkles Deluxe Model:



Please direct all comments to the comment section of this blog as The HOchies will not be taking any calls regarding this matter.

Thanks.

What's Up With Stuff?

This was the fortune HOchie 1 received today from a cookie (or at least it was some bullsheet a-like-so):

Turn the two corners of your mouth from down to upwards into a smile.

What is that? I think the Chinese are running out of fortunes to tell. That wasn't even a fortune!

It's kind of like Broadway. They're running out of stuff to make into musicals. Seriously, "Mary Poppins"? Mary frickin' Poppins.

I also think I'm running out of ideas for blog titles.

It's a Two Night Premiere, People (But You Guys Already Knew That) S6 of the 24 HC Continues

WARNING: There are SPOILERS!

The "Jack Snack" tonight = potato skins (bacon. how can one go wrong?).

8 AM to 9 AM:

Oh that WP. He's not a very good president.

Baby B. thinks it's a lot of 'bs' that Nadia is questioning Chloe's abilities to do her job. I agree, Baby B. I agree.

And so the white castle torch has been passed.

You know what's cold? A picture of the DP in Wayne's office.

What happens if they accidentally load the wrong people on the buses? ha, I mean I guess they have a list but geez.

There's SGDP II, causing trouble under the guise of being an advocate for human rights. Sounds like SGDP causing trouble under the guise of being a good wife to the President!

When Ahmed asked for some prescription painkillers, he meant White Castle, dude.

Head Count: updated - 200 in Baltimore; updated - 112 in St. Louis; 3

9 AM to 10 AM:

Morris is like the new, old Chloe but much more...obnoxious.

Or sure, Curtis, just blame it on The Chinese for breaking Jack. I mean, it's not untrue but just go ahead and blame the Chinese for everything! Bitches.

Finally somebody does something right in this show and actually contacts the police for once instead of playing hero or actually listening to terrorists when they've a chance to do good.

"I think Kumar has been hitting up the white castle too much. I see a bit of a double chin." - HOchie 1.

Curtis has got the classic face of this season thus far, look at the disgust at the President speaking to Assad on the phone:



Head Count: 4 and holy crap! I can't even add the thousands to the HC right now but for sure, about 20 others. Curtis, you deserved it. It took you long enough to get added to the HC. But way to shoot another black man in the throat, 24. Way to shoot another black man. MC, you go ahead and rage.

Photo post! I do need to get rid of that lamp glare...

Now We See Just How Hard Maintaining The HC Is Going To Be: S6 The 24 HC Begins

We're ready with crackers and cheese (we're not really in the mood for bananas)!
Note from Char Kar: the new "Jack Snack" will be cheese and crackers.

6 AM to 7 AM:

Hold on. Milo's in middle-management? And not in milk?

NOOOOOOO, why'd they fuck with my Chloe?! She's not a raving, awkward bitch anymore! Oh wait, there's my girl with the snarky face. Awwww. Still...I may be okay if she goes the way of Chloe this season. You know, dead. That's the phrase we're using for anyone who's going to die or dies.

Ew! Marriage to Bill Buchanan is not making Karen Hayes look good at all. Ugh.

Well THAT'S surprising...all it took was a high price for the U.S. to pay to the Chinese to get Jack back. Huh.

Ah, the second coming of Christ...



but do you think Jack is silent because he can only understand Chinese now? Ahahahahahahaha. Wait, it's Jeebus - he can speak in tongues. Durh. It's really hilarious how they keep talking about how Jack has to be sacrificed. Just like Jeebus...just. like. Jeebus.



And thanks to Char Kar for pointing it out but:

"I thought you'd be enraged that they wouldn't let an Arab guy on the bus and it turns out the Asian's the terrorist!" - Char Kar.
"Oh yeah, but I was more thankful that the Zen was the weapon of terrorism and not an Ipod." - Or 2.

Who I'd like to see dead in the near future - Nadia

There's Jack, all cleaned up now but what's with the ugly shirt? As HOchie 1 has pointed out, "Curtis brought him that shirt. Obviously Curtis is not a stylish shirt connisseur."

(It's not a great picture of the shirt and the lamp is back but you can kind of see how lame it is under the close-captioning):



Dude! It's Kumar! Where's Harold? Did he blow up the bus?
HOchie 1: You know that Kumar IS totally a terrorist, right? I mean, he terrorized us with that White Castle.

note: Ahahahahah! HOchie 1 was right! Kumar is a terrorist!

And there's Kathrine! I didn't realize it was her... Didn't a virus take her ass out? And where's Frank Black?

Head Count: 900+, 23 so far from the bus and that one dude Jack sired. Damned frickin' Vampire Jack. As if THAT scene wasn't vaguely familiar...



You know what's cold? Showing a commercial during this run of 24 with dead President Palmer in it. Wrong.

7 AM to 8 AM:

"That Morris is one sleazy cat." - HOchie 1.
"Why am I loving that sleaze, Chloe's ex?! He's so sleazy but I LOVE him!!" - Char Kar.

Wayne's a lame President. Oh for the days of the DP. Oh how we miss those days.

And what's in this mysterious package? Is it white castle?

It's the new SGDP! Sandra Goddamned Palmer.

That Assad is hardcore. He's more hardcore than Jack. We like him.

The Chinese sure fed Jack while he was there being tortured. He looks thin but not as thin as you'd think he'd be. That juk. It's good stuff. HOchie 1 can tell you all about it.

The next time, we get on the train without a ticket, we're going to say our name is Jack Bauer and we're federal agents after a guy with a bomb. But man, that guy did a poor job of being a terrorist. Shouldn't he have been in the middle car? Not the last?

Head Count: 7 plus the files, the coffee cup and the branch Jack used to knock out that dude; 47 in Chicago; and we'll say about the same for the Balitmore mall attack.

Goodbye for now, Zarnyx; Greetings, Sariel

The Ipod Quest was fulfilled as planned on Tuesday.

To my Zarnyx, you're still awesome and never gone. Here's your mini-photo tribute:



And Sariel...oh the things you will soon endure. But it'll be good times, all of it.

I have to say though, there are a few things I like better about Zarnyx, my 4th Generation. Even though he was black & white, I liked that I didn't have to use the backlighting. Now I HAVE to use the backlighting.

I also liked that I could keep the click wheel volume on and I didn't have to hear it once I had my headphones in but it annoyed everyone else. Now, I can hear it through the headphones! Curses!

What I do find amusing about Sariel though, is the fact that when I'm scrolling through my extensive library, the alphabet comes up as it goes through the list.

For those interested, Beetchie and I also went to Kenka. We didn't feast upon anything 'odd' this time but here's what we ate:

a chunk of stewed pork
eggplant in tempura sauce
grilled salted salmon
some sort of not-as-good-as-the-regular okinomayaki thingie
fried chicken wings

Manhattan was a Chamber of Farts

But it's no surprise that NJ is always a Chamber of Farts.

Monday saw this HOchie ready to dash out of Manhattan. Yep, thanks to the Mysterious Odor which is still a mystery, we're all going to die.

I'm currently drafting my will, as many of you know. Here's the tentative list thus far:
I've got Beetchie for dibs on my 80GB but on the stipulation that she hands her 30GB over to HOchie 1;

TD5 gets some of my dvds (Evil Dead? and whatever else you can think of);

Baby B wants my fridge and sleep sack;

Battler gets some of my stuffed animals (whatever HOchie 1 doesn't keep);

X gets nothing because she'll be coming with me since we both breathed in the odor;

my Miyamoto signed Link comes with me to the grave since I'll need protection in the next world;

Char Kar...I can't think of anything I have that'd you want;

MC gets nothing because he's D.T.U., besides which, he claims he can make it on his own, not to mention he'd probably just share my shit with Jamaicans & various Yardies;

HOchie 1 gets everything else, including my precious Wii since Beetchie is ungrateful;

and SF...

Well, exactly where is SF in all of this? Does anyone know?

X has a theory and it's one of the quotes of the day:

"Where's SF? I haven't heard from him..." - Me.
"Ummm, I told you! (they're trying to pinpoint it in Jersey City) SF exploded. SF = Gas. That's my story and I'm sticking to it." - X.

Other quotes -

"It's either a terrorist plot or a government experiment. It was a test to see how far they could get away with things and we all failed." - Aims.
"And you're thinking this way, not that I don't agree with you, but it's 'cause you watch too much 24." - Me.

D.T.U.

There are tons of people who are going to be added to this list. Let us begin.

X - Barbados, was it? D.T.U.

MC - Trinidad, was it? D.T.U.

Beetchie - St. Kitts, was it? D.T.U.

Char Kar - Elseplace, was it? D.T.U.

H1 - Valhalla, was it? D.T.M.

And X is trying to stay off this list but I know better. Still, it makes for interesting conversation:

"I know what you're trying to do, you're trying to take the stupid crown away from SF for last year and give it to me for this year?! I see what you're trying to do!" - X
"The Stupid Crown is not passed just like that. It's if you do something stupid." - Or 2.

"M. & I can get married and live in two separate places. My grandmother did it! He'll just send me an allowance every month!" - X.
"You know, the stupid crown is being passed around but not to M." - The HOchies.

Random Thoughts on Godzilla

I always forget that Godzilla's bad.

But you know, any giant lizard that fights crazy GDDH insects that try to save the world from man-made earth altering devices, is cool by me.

Mothra sucks.

It's Time To Play Or 2's Clues

Our adventure begins, not in a house full of animated pepper, salt & paprika shakers or talking mail boxes but actually on the train.

Instead of showing you all little stories of love, friendship and lending a helping hand (yes I know, it's sad to not ska-doo into pictures), I will just cut right to the chase and lay out Or 2's clues for you. So let's play and see if you can figure out what happened to Or 2 on her way home from work. But before all that, when you see "@*!$*&@?!!", it means you've struck upon an Or 2 Clue.

Settling into my seat, chatting with the BFF some and then drowning everyone out when -

"@*!$*&@?!!"

In our handy-dandy sketch book, we have this -



Then came the silence, then came the manual ipod switch, then came the boom, then came this "@*!$*&@?!!" :



A sigh of relief until the screen showed this "@*!$*&@?!!":



Literally. That is what I have on the screen. I mean, it confused me some because that image is of a second generation I believe and I think I've a 4th. So mmmaaaybe it doesn't apply to Zarnyx? ...

I was trying my darndest to take a picture but the train lighting messed things up for me so I did the next best thing which was to draw it in my handy-dandy sketchbook.

Now can ANYONE take a guess as to watch Or 2's Train Adventure was about?

Needless to say, Steve Jobs better come reaaaaal good next week at MacWorld or Chrissy's going to get an ass-cutting from me.

And I had this brilliant plan to forfeit upgrading this year, taking the same amount of money it'd cost to buy an 80gb for use in a weekend escape plan to London to see MUSE.

I see overkill overtime in my very near future...

Currently listening to: Well it certainly isn't my Ipod.

Oh, one last thing. Arctic Monkeys killed my Ipod.

Legend of Zelda can kiss my Star Star Star

"The Golden Bug Ball" - the biggest letdown of my life. Assness.

H1

The HOchies Don't Do New Year's Resolutions

At least not for ourselves... directly. We decided that this year, we'll do resolutions for you guys.

Yes, Yes. Beetchie already "ewww-ed" me.

But hold on, it's not as obnoxious as you think. We're not making resolutions we think you people should follow, we're doing Resolutions HOchie Style. For instance:

1. X. This year, we will no longer be cateering to High Maintenance X. You can kick shoes up and down the stairs, corridor or house as much as you want but let me tell you, you're going to have to find your own leopard print bedroom slippers to do so.

2. Mitch Connors. We don't have one for you. Don't forget: D.T.U.

3. SF. Never strive to be more than you are - being stupid is not a sin. We love you the way you are and that is our resolution for you.

4. TD5. Okay, so we lied. We actually do have a resolution for YOU to follow. Try being less of an ass this year. And thanks.

5. Bughie J.. Or 2 actually has a real resolution. I will try to not harrass you too much in my requests for anime and music. Umm, right after I request Bleach. =)

6. Beetchie. Stop judging us, but even though we know you will continue to do so, we won't care. And stop chewing the cud as you read this.

2007 - Let's Go!

Here's a recap of December 31st, 2006 from none other than The Cheat:


Yes, that's right, The Cheat was mixing vodka and pills.

Annnd, the beginning of 2007, The Cheat style:







Happy New Year, Bitches.

Mitch Connors: He Can Make It On His Own!

This week was all about MC because he's currently off on a new adventure, and it's one that doesn't involve the HOchies (at least one that doesn't involve the HOchies living an amtrack ride away).

Ponsgri saw us for the millionth time this year but a great time was had by all as we hung out with MC. Battler, SF, Aims, Beetchie and myself were there to join him for good eats. The night was full of chaos as per usual but all in good fun.

SF decided to use his new Kirby with wand toy to bless all who he felt needed blessing at the table.

"Do you have your finger up Kirby's ass?" - Beetchie
"Uhhhh..." - SF

It's okay, I was blessed. It worked.

Fruity drinks were sipped, pinkies were stuck out and the Asian smack-talk was plentiful.

Beetchie didn't have a chair when she got to the table and opted to get one herself, much to the annoyance of the woman at Pongsri who already hates my ass. Why? Because although we told her we thought she'd be okay with and used to sitting on the floor, Beetchie informed us and I quote, "I'm not that type of Asian".

Other memorable conversations of the evening:

"Beetchie, I hope you choke on your rice." - MC
"It's not gonna happen. Asians can never choke on rice." - Battler

"Let's leave Beetchie white rice only. That should be enough for her to eat." - MC & SF.
"You know, just because she's Chinese don't mean she's used to just eating rice." - Me.

Friday was awesome.

Mitch Connors was in line at 6 AM until about 10:25 AM in front of Nintendo World in the hopes of purchasing a Wii. And all I can say now is, "A Winner is MC". Yes!

The awesomeness continued (after another boring day at work but hey! I got to see my Alex!) when SF, MC and I walked to Grand Central for parting eats at Junior's Cheesecake Restuarant. It was simple but good...we had many good laughs together and the best video footage of MC opening his presents from SF. Oh the hilarity that ensued but it just goes to show you that SF loves me the most. And I love him! You did good, SF. I see you took my blog threat seriously.

Quotes of that day:

"Nothing like that ever happens to me." - SF
"That's because you're too damned loveable." - Me.
"Yeah, I look innocent. But I'm not THAT innocent." - SF
"..." - Me
"I was having a Britney Moment." - SF.

"Are you sure you can make it on your own?" - Me
"Yeah. I'm sure. I'm leaving SF/Tenderfoot in your care." - MC.

Now for the 2006 wrap-up post I'm sneaking in here but it's all relative, really -

Ah the vodka's settling into my brain right now but as I'm here watching lame ass performers on MTV (you know, I'd rather watch these "Mafia" people with their blingie gold stage than watch Toni Braxton and her poor excuse for a dress on FOX), I'm trying my best to remember all the goo' times we had together in 2006. I can't remember the details because like I said, the vodka's settling in but heck, that's what the HOchies have this blog thingie for.

I would like to say though, I know great times were had and I thank all of you for that. You all are the best familiends the HOchies can have and we're the best frenemies you guys have. Heh Heh.

We went to Broadway shows, Off Broadway Shows, Movies, Museums, Exhibits, Good Time Eateries, Concerts, London & Scotland, lame ass strip clubs (or just one), other states, each other's homes and everyplace on the streets of NY and it was all hella' awesome (save the one stripclub). But we had great times no matter what. I love all you bitches.

Next year looks to be the same and I hope it is.

And to our M.C.:

D.T.U.

I saiiiiddd...You are D.T.U.

Presents, Kyle... Presents

Dear Sons,

You are right: Hot Pink, Tokyo & Funny Looking Things go well together.

Dear Battler,

As usual, the plethora of love in a bag is good times. Badtz Maru is being rocked at the job today.

Dear Bughie J.,

Thank you for the copious amounts of love in brownies and new music.

Dear MC,

I love <3 redundancy. And that makes me think maybe I really do need that "Brain Boost"

Dear TD5,

Thanks. I live in the Amazonian Jungle, as you know. Hopefully I can find an 80gb Ipod hanging from a tree.

Dear SF,

It better be good and by good, it better be my MUSE Wembley Stadium Tickets for June 16th, 2007. And I realize I have no right to tell you it better be good especially after you see what I got you. Heh heh heh. I suspect you will slay me.

Dear X,

My ring looks fantabulous on my finger. I know this because right after lunch today, I looked down at my hand & had a moment.

Dear Beetchie,

My MUSElet is the best damned thing eva' and my obsession will not be ending anytime soon despite your pleading. And now you have only yourself to blame.

Dear The Cheat,

Thanks for saving my life with the T.S.C. I think I'm addicted to them. Also, the piggyh pez dispenser is now in the garbage. I mean...in the rubbish. I keed.

Dear Beat,

Thanks for the monkey pajamas. I'm not quite sure what you're trying to say considering you're the only little monkey around hya (or was it quenk?); but I do know what you're trying to do but let me assure you that getting overly large PJ pants may be a good way to trip Suga'Face down the stairs but I will always have that title even if you are Suga'Babe. I cannot be replaced.

Dear HOchie 1,

Thanks for the fun times with Wii and for the sleep sack. I was kind of hoping it had ducks on it like Beat's. Please provide me with ducks.

And to all,

Everyone is welcome to come over to my room for some cold ones.

Happy Decemberween

And Merry Christmas, Bitches!

More about the present situation later... har har.

Decemberween Eve with The Cheat

The Cheat In Front of the Decemberween Tree with present in hand



The Cheat Opens said present and look,



Why, if it isn't a The Legend of Zelda Kirby.

But wait!!

The Cheat Got Me a Present as well! What is it?! On first glance it seems to be a box of 32 Decemberween Cards.

But inside the box reveals the actual present!



That Piggyh Pez dispenser and those Tiny Size Chicklets will save my life (as HOchie 1 pointed out), much like Altoids did at College.

Thank you, The Cheat.

2006 - Fun Times With The HOchies List

The trickery I do so love to lay down on you guys! This isn't exactly the Fun Times with the HOchies 2006 list. I already did a photo post of that to you guys. No, this is really the Or 2's Best of 2006 Music, Concert and Broadway List.

Joke's on me because some of you are going to skip over this, yeah? Asshats. That's right, HOchie 1! I called you an asshat!

Anyway, of the albums I got this year and mind you, some of them weren't released this year but they were new to me, here they are and the songs that were best from them:

Death Cab for Cutie

We Got the facts and We're Voting Yes - so far disappointing and I can't even pick a song from here yet but I will listen again in the near future

Something About Airplanes - "Bend to Squares" is a fantastic song. Other than that, this album is another I'll need to listen to because so far it's boring as heck. Sorry TD5.

Transatlanticism - "Tiny Vessels", "Title and Registration"

Audioslave

Revelations - "Shape of Things To Come", "Moth", Wide Awake

With no tour planned for the year after the album came out, I don't know what's going with Audioslave. They had one of the worst songs this year, "Original Fire". I cringe everytime I hear it. This album, other than those three songs, is mostly forgettable and that is painful for me to say. Sweet D., you can keep him even though I still love you, T.M.

The Streets

The Hardest Way to Make An Easy Living - "Can't Con an Honest John", "The Hardest Way To Make an Easy Living", "When You Wasn't Famous". This is another not-so-great album after the golden greatness of Mike Skinner's first two.

Tool

10,000 Days - "The Pot", "Vicarious". "The Pot" is one of the greatest songs this year but Tool, why are you making me add you to the list of not-so-great overall?! Maybe if you stopped your bullshit pretentiousness, then you'd make an album that wasn't one long boring song and an extension from your last! Geez.

OK Go

OK Go - "Get Over It" (Hilarious video and amazing song), "Hello My Treacherous Friends" (I like the bit about the spider children. I don't understand it but I like it as long as they're not Hobo Spiders, that is. Right X?), "1000 Miles Per Hour"

Oh No - "Oh Lately It's So Quiet", "It's a Disaster", "Maybe This Time". I took a chance on this band this year starting with this album and loved it so much that I forced them upon SF (but you know you should be thanking me, right, SF?), made enemies with Hinder and went out and bought OK Go's first. This is a really fun album and they seem to be a fun bunch of guys who are really about their fans and that's always a plus.

Thom Yorke

The Eraser - "Analyse" (One of the best songs this year!), "The Clock", "Harrowdown Hill". Thom Yorke, that loveable freak. I liked this album well enough. Oh and "The Drunk Machine" from the Harrowdown Hill EP is pretty good too.

Arctic Monkeys

Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not - "Dancing Shoes", "Perhaps Vampires is a Bit Strong But...", "Mardy Bum", "You Probably Couldn't See For The Lights But You Were Staring Straight At Me".

Okay, so I stayed away from this band realizing how hyped up they were as soon as they came out until of course, a 7 hour flight to London and a broken pair of Ipod headphones forced me to make use of Virgin Atlantic's In-Flight Entertainment Service. So, I listened and actually liked it. It's not to be taken seriously, the whole thing's about how to hook up on the dancefloor (yeah, let's say the Arctic Monkeys can write only as well as, well, Arctic Monkeys. But ah, the lyrics and music are fun so whatever) and wow, do they like long titles.

Mindless Self Indulgence

Another Mindless Rip Off - (it truly is but at $8.99 and my undying love for this band, I had to get it. They know we're idiot fans who will buy anything but we know it too so it doesn't make it better but it makes it something) "Born to be Beheaded", "Frying Pan", "What Do They Know?" remix by MSI VS. Julien-K. & Chester Bennington

Shut Me Up: The Remixes + 3

This was truly disappointing! I mean, I rushed out to buy it for MSI's cover of "Big Poppa" because if you've heard their covers of "Tom Sawyer" and "Bring The Pain", you'll agree with me that MSI can cover a song like nobody's business but ugh, I was so sad and unimpressed by "Big Poppa". It wasn't horrible but it wasn't A+ material either. It was rather boring.

Despierto Los Ninos - "Alienating my Audience", "Joke", "Wack". And these songs are examples of why I love them because they're self-loathing, fan-hating, fun time bitches.

The Legend of Zelda

From The Oracle of Ages Sdtk - "Tower of Black", "Ralph's Theme" and no, Ralph is NOT my BFF!!!!!!!

From "The Oracle of Seasons" Sdtk - "Castle of Despair"

Final Fantasy VII Advent Children

"Battle in the Forgotten City", "Beyond the Wasteland", "Sairin: Kata Tsubata No Tenshi". Yes, "One-Winged Angel" remains bad-assed even after given a rock on opera makeover.

And now for the two greatest albums all year...

Keane

Under the Iron Sea - "Nothing in My Way", "Leaving So Soon?", "A Bad Dream". Thanks to some drugs, Keane released a stellar album this year. The entire thing is amazing save maybe one song I refuse to listen to. They would have made number one on my list and heck knows they're really close to being at that spot but of course...

MUSE

Black Holes & Revelations - "Map of the Problematique", "Hoodoo", "Take A Bow". I'd be a traitor if I didn't have them as the most revered. But in all honesty, had they not made an incredible album, Keane would have taken this one. Every track is great except for that damned "Knights of Cydonia" that I hate but absolutely love in concert. And "Invincible" which grew on me because it's also great in concert.

[Personal Message: Matt, I love you. Please send me tickets and VIP passes to your show at Wembley Stadium on June 16th of next year. No one got tickets for me even though I pleaded that that was the only present I wanted for Christmas. Bitches.]

But talk about another hideous album cover...

For those of you who missed receiving a copy of this c.d. from me or TD5 this year, no worries...as soon as their concert dvd comes out, you're all getting one.

Now for my list of the shows (concerts & broadway) I saw this year starting with the best and ending with the worst:

1. MUSE at Wembley Arena. "Assassin (Grand Omega Bosses Mix)" is the most bad-assed performance in concert I've ever seen and/or heard.

2. Mindless Self Indulgence (tied with below) - oh how I love Jimmy. Within two years, baby, I'll have Urine tattoed to my foot. This was my first real pit. I'm alive. Barely. If not for Beetchie and Jess, I wouldn't be posting right now.

2. Evil Dead The Musical (tied with above) - great because X got roughed up.

4. Spamalot - I like Lancelot; he likes to dancealot. And he was pretty hot.

5. MUSE @ The Hammerstein Ballroom - small venue greatness because I was close to my man and fun because now SF is hooked.

6. Franz Ferdinand @ The Hammerstein Ballroom - as my Budgie would say, "if it's free, it's for me" and then there was the Alex moment.

7. Wicked - There's nothing like a gOOd-lOOkin' flying monkey. Yes, it is possible.

8. Les Miserables - the slo'mo' death scene was hilarious even though I don't think they meant it to be. The flush was just damned lame.

9. (and now for the worst show, please view two blogs before this one) Matisyahu. That's right, MC. Matisdamnedyahu.

And this next bit is for my own purposes -

My Top 25 Most Played Ipod Playlist

At the end of 2006, here's what it looks like:

1. What Do They Know? @ 314 times played
2. Stupid MF
3. Microphone Commander
4. Map of the Problematique
5. Time is Running Out
6. Eternally Missed
7. Hysteria
8. Shut Me Up
9. Tom Sawyer
10. New Born
11. You'll Rebel To Anything (As Long As It's Not Challenging)
12. Talk To Me, Dance With Me
13. Bomb This Track
14. The Small Print
15. Thank God
16. Revenge
17. The Groove
18. 1989
19. Last Gay Song
20. Rip Off
21. Muscle Museum
22. Apocalypse Please
23. Supermassive Black Hole
24. Micro Cuts
25. Sunburn @150 times played

All MSI & MUSE except for the one Hot Hot Heat song in there. Sad. Let's see what the playlist will look like at the end of 2007.

Wicked

Been there, done that.

You other guys get to go next year so I won't say anything about it yet.

Yes, continue to hate me until that time you see it.

But here's the one thing everyone else said though:

Who knew Ana Gasteyer could sing?

"I've Been Converted!"

...

is what I would be saying had that blasted Matisyahu concert been any good!

In Matisyahu's defense, even though I still don't like his genre of music, I could tell he put on a good show.



You can tell from that picture, right? For some reason that picture really cracks me up.

But as I stated before, thanks to Mitch Connors, my December was ruined! RUINED!

The Lowlamps:

1. The little 15 year old, rich, gansta' wannabees with their "Ohhhh, he's playing our shit!", smoking up, & self-made drama of "fainting" but then passing it off as we "fell asleep" certainly made for a rotten evening.

2. The opening act, Mr. Lif was the worst opener I've seen all year. Or ever. I didn't think anyone would take the place of Seether but I'll be damned. So if you ever see this man and friend,




stay the hell away.

3. The waiting. 6.30 to 8. Horrible Opener then 9 to 11. Oh. the. agony.

The Highlights:

1. SF & MC. SF with the Popcorn. MC's face during the crowd surfing when he almost got killed by some kid and MC's face during the show, proving my point that we never should have been there in the first place.

2. DJ Boo.

3. The really tall kid who couldn't dance. Anyone who wants to see video footage, I will gladly show it or please reference the Seinfeld episode with Elaine's infamous dance. But hey, he was having fun, so that's all that matters.

4. Matisyahu the Monkey. He's very energetic and the climbing was out of control.

There he is climbing from one balcony level to the next.

Ah, climb Monkey Boy. Climb. ( I was actually nervous watching him)



5. The Rocky Theme Song Sung and Mixed with Hebrew.

And just the lights: