5 things I learned today (and don't want to forget)

The Arabic term for Muslim Iberia Al Andalus, and its derivative Andalusia, are probably not derived from the Berber pronunciation of the word Vandal: "Wandal"where »

Pabst Blue Ribbon is brewed by the Miller Brewing Company where »

Clockwork Orange was set in the far off future of 1995 where »

Almost all people suffer from change blindness where »

Elvis Presley had a father (although obvious, it never occurred to me). Also, Natalie Portman can make a mean salad where »

5 things I learned today - Weekly Episode 12 Season 3

1. 13 Great Musical Moments in Wes Anderson Movieshttp://bit.ly/howPdE 

2. Fantastic view of the Aurora http://bit.ly/hieQLo

3. The Lost Beatles Photographs | Brain Pickings http://bit.ly/eRAyBc

4. Special Flip http://bit.ly/eppktG

5. Gymkhana but in a HUUUGE truck http://aol.it/idcDDd

5 things I heard April 9, 2011- Guest Post - Shakira Refos

Shakira Refos (http://on.fb.me/gcU62r) is working to bring a new vibe to SRQ with The Take Over: A Youth Culture Festival 2011 (http://facebook.com/thetakeoversrq ) in its first year Saturday, April 23 · 12:00pm - 9:30pm at the Sarasota Fairgrounds.

5 things Shakira Refos heard April 9, 2011

1. A Tribe Called Quest - Electric Relaxation http://bit.ly/fqzNTE

No ‘best of hiphop’ anything list is complete without an entry from A Tribe Called Fucking Awesome. This group represents HipHop in its truest form.  They ruled New York during the early 90’s which is considered to be the Golden Age of HipHop. I saw Q-tip (one of the three members of Tribe) perform in Amsterdam about two years ago. When the show was over I thought I had been a part of something that I can only describe as a religious experience. 

2.  Jay-Z - PSA (Public Service Announcement) http://bit.ly/gEAoXv

PSA is from the Black Album which isn’t the most pivotal album in the progression of his career, but might be one of his outstanding albums production wise. With incredible contributions by Just Blaze, Kanye West and one of the founders of Def Jam, Rick Rubin.

PSA makes me put on my ‘hurts so good face’ whenever I hear it. The organ and bass patterns are so incredibly raw.

If you don’t own any albums by Jay then please please please listen to his Unplugged with The Roots Band. It will change the way you view HipHop. Jay’s Unplugged stands for a real innocent time in my life right after graduating Booker High Schools VPA when all my closest friends and I cared about was each other and listening to Jay Z’s Unplugged. 

3.  Outkast - Elevators (Me and You) http://bit.ly/fa2w7I

This song is important to me because it is the song my girlfriend and I will play for each other whenever we see a jukebox at a bar. ‘Elevators’ talks about how Outkast started and the way they handle their success. It's just composed so beautifully. They were the complete weirdos of Hiphop when they first came out. Sonically, as well as they way they looked. Yet they have been able to achieve Southern HipHop legend status by just being themselves. I think its part of the reason why they are so loved universally.

4. Luchini - (aka This Is It) http://bit.ly/eJIbuy

I can recognize Luchini with the first half second of its trumpet call. It is my number one all time favorite HipHop song. 

Camp Lo’s style of rapping is so complex. I still don’t know what half of the lyrics mean even though I have heard this song two million times. The whole album is incredible, but Luchini, played at the right time in the right place, can bring me to tears.

5. Dangerdoom -Crosshairs http://bit.ly/hhhPjT

 Another rapper with a complex rhyme scheme is MF Doom. Completely underrated but probably one of the best rappers out of the East Coast.  Just listen... The Mouse and The Mask was created by rapper MF Doom and producer Dangermouse who subsequently went on to form Gnarles Barkley with Cee-lo. Cee lo was originally from The Goodie Mobb who had a collective called the Dungeon Family that also contained Outkast and The Headliner of The Take Over: A Youth Culture Festival, Trick Daddy. 

Photo of Shakira by Ali Hackathorn

1 idea 5 people - Episode 11

Art does not come from art

5 things I learned today - Weekly Episode 11 Season 3

1. Hypothetical letters http://bit.ly/edFZiC 

2. Stanley Kubrick as a photojournalist in 1949 Chicago http://bit.ly/dNLJL3 

3. Amazing catch by the ball girl http://bit.ly/hBA2vJ 

4. Computer-aided loom makes for amazing weavings http://bit.ly/hJMeQn 

5. Documentary on time http://bit.ly/hwkBLS