Rex Kickass

I'm in awe at how Democrats and labor are really coming together to fight for what's right in Wisconsin. Time was, a rally at a state capitol that numbers in the 2 to 3 thousand mark is a big number. Yesterday's protests estimate between 35 and 70 thousand coming out to demand a seat at the table when it comes to issues such as rights within the workplace, safety on the job, and some control over their compensation packages. I just wish there was this excitement over the election in November on their end. If there was, we wouldn't be facing this issue today.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 17, 2011 -> 02:42 PM) Thus the "ass" part. But, it seems you are exaggerating a bit here too. I don't think this says they have no right to organize, that's not what I have read about the law to this point. The bill puts an end to collective bargaining, if I understand it correctly. It essentially makes a union pointless, because it prohibits workers from having a seat at the table when it comes to dictating the terms of their work.

QUOTE (Tex @ Feb 10, 2011 -> 02:01 PM) That said, Balta, where do you get the idea that somehow I said this puts the Republicans on a pedestal above the Dems? I mearly stated that this is the kind of behavior that I applaud from politicians and hope both sides do this. One article talked about a zero tolerance from the GOP, I hope they continue and I hope the Dems follow along. You'll have to forgive me for thinking "zero tolerance" is a crock of s***. If this had been a Congressman in the GOP leadership, I don't think he would have been nearly as quick to bail out. This is a caucus led by someone who was passing out lobbyist checks on the House floor before a vote. And the Dems don't have to follow along anyone to be responsible. They have, by and large, been responsible - stripping "Freezercash" Jefferson of his leadership posts when that whole thing blew up, pressuring Rangel out of his leadership roles and pushing him to the back bench when his controversy blew up. That's acting responsibly. I would wager that resigning because you put your personal "Guys with iPhone" picture on Craigslist to try and cheat on your wife is the opposite of responsible behavior. Personally? I'm team adulterer here. If he was pressured to resign for personal behavior having nothing to do with his job as Congressman, I fail to see why this is anyone's business. What you do on your own clock is your own business as long as its legal. And last time I checked, topless internet snaps of yourself still is legal. If not, I need a lawyer.

You know what I hate? There's a room of 40 spin bikes and about 10 people in the class. I purposely sequester myself far away from everyone else... and someone has to take the bike right next to or right behind me.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 4, 2011 -> 12:11 PM) Right. The 4Q running number was significantly higher than 3Q, so smoothing out the diffs, the curve is going the right way... just not steeply enough yet. We'll see how the full 1Q 2011 pans out. But they are attributing this big drop in the unemployment rate to this 500K number and not to people falling off the rolls, at least as far as I can tell, and if it was a net number, then the unemployment rate should not have budged at all, no?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 2, 2011 -> 12:10 PM) That still shot of David Letterman makes him look to be about 130.

The ACORN Pimp/Ho road show is back, and the new target is Planned Parenthood. Turns out "Live Action" went to 13 different Planned Parenthood centers across the Northeast with cameras posing as a pimp trafficking underage prostitutes and wanted information on abortion. They released a video where the counselor made some improper and unethical counsel to these people. The Planned Parenthood employee? Fired upon discovery of the remarks. The FBI, by the way, was also notified of these unusual visits, because Planned Parenthood generally errs on the side of caution when it comes to human trafficking. I think we can all agree, that no medical professional should act illegally when counselling patients about reproductive health, or any personal health issues for that matter. But because of this "sting" operation, designed to get an organization in trouble unnecessarily, the FBI is now spending extra resources investigating a potential child trafficking organization that doesn't really exist and that's kind of horrifying. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110202/us_nm/us_abortion_video For the record, fully two thirds of Planned Parenthood services entail STD Screening and STD/Pregnancy Prevention and Education. Another 17% of it is cancer screening. Abortion related services entail just 3% of what this organization does.

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Feb 2, 2011 -> 05:07 PM) If this goes to the supreme court, it loses 5-4. And this thread should be renamed Insurance Bill (Law), since that's what it is. As I predicted from the start, nothing in healthcare has changed because of this bill. Same high cost drugs, service, and bills rolling on in. If it goes to the Supreme Court, odds are it stays law. Because of two things, as the bill stays in place longer, it has been getting less onerous to the public, if not more popular. And if the Supreme Court is really that partisan, by the time the Supreme Court hears this, in 2012 or 2013 at the earliest, do you really think they want to be responsible for taking away preexisting condition protection and increased funding for medication for the elderly? As this becomes more apparent a benefit, the law becomes less palatable to repeal on bulls*** grounds. But the real reason that this would be likely to stay A-OK, and probably by a 6-3 margin too, is that it protects money to keep this law in place. And I firmly believe that the Supreme Court in its current formation is most concerned with protecting profits first.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jan 30, 2011 -> 11:06 AM) A precursor to the unrest in Egypt and Yemen. My iTunes does have a psychic connection. Let's see whats in store for next week... The Ray Makers - Tender N Tasty Tegan and Sara - I Can't Take It Retribution Gospel Choir - Your Bird Amy Winehouse - Rehab Caribou - Leave House Kasabian - Stuntman Moby - Heavy Flow Jens Lekman - Kaenske Aer Jag Kaer I Dig Jens Lekman - Another Sweet Summer's Night on Hammer Hill Phoenix - Napoleon Says Bettie Serveert - Pork and Beans (Prediction: Hoof and Mouth disease takes place in Sweden)

QUOTE (BigEdWalsh @ Jan 26, 2011 -> 02:55 PM) 1. "Why I Sing The Blues" - B.B. King 2. "For Yasgur's Farm" - Mountain 3. "The In Crowd" - Roxy Music 4. "Leather King" - The Fleshtones 5. "Superstition" - Stevie Ray Vaughn 6. "Walk On By" - Isaac Hayes 7. "Common Ground" - Rhythm Corps 8. "Pretty Ballerina" The Left Banke 9. "What About Me" Quicksilver Messenger Service 10. "Pepper" The Butthole Surfers Gotta love that! My list today: MF Doom - Vinca Rosea Dengue Fever - New Year's Eve Vinicius de Morais - Pra que chorar? Washed Out - New Theory Serge Gainsbourg - Requiem pour un C... David Bowie - Art Decade Janelle Monae - Dance or Die Bran Van 3000 - Rappy Rap The Replacements - Skyway Die Fantastichen Vier - Populaer And this list goes to 11! LCD Soundsystem - Dance Yrself Clean

Berlin is super fun, one of my favorite places on earth. If you go, you should definitely check out two museums - The Checkpoint Charlie museum, which is about the Berlin Wall, and the DDR Museum, which is dedicated to East Germany and is phenomenal, in my opinion. I would also take a day trip to Potsdam. It's a smaller city just south of Berlin, and full of modern history, including four power summits just post World War II, and there was also the big East German film studios Babelsberg, which is still open I believe and you can tour. There is also a concentration camp just north of the city in Oranienburg that also does tours. Berlin is more like New York City than any other place I've been to. There is a ton for you to enjoy nightlife wise, an amazing arts and music scene. Hipsters hang in Prenzlauer Berg, a district that used to be in East Berlin. You should definitely eat a Doner Kebap sandwich in Berlin. It's really amazing Turkish food and is on virtually any corner. My favorite Kebap sandwich is right off Bahnhof Zoo by the A&O Hostel. If you are looking for an inexpensive hotel, I'd recommend the art'otel on Kufurstendamm. It's right off the U9 subway line, very nice and inexpensive with great service. If your hostelling, I've heard great things about Generator, but I don't know if they are still around. Also, don't forget Currywurst, it was invented in Berlin. Brussels is boring. Vienna was fun, I don't remember a lot. It involved a girl though. She was an au pair. There's some interesting architecture.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jan 27, 2011 -> 12:51 PM) This is why I think Obama has been a disaster so far as President. Not because i'm against a lot of his policy decisions, but because his focus is so completely off the ball. http://www.newsweek.com/2011/01/27/white-h...un-control.html The country is still in an economic hole and he chooses to focus on issues like healthcare and guns. I'm not advocating that those issues be ignored, but come on. He clearly understood that the SOTU needed to address the economy, and then he's going to waste energy on some bogus gun control debate that he won't win? Ridiculous. If a President can only have one priority at a time, we're in a lot of trouble.

Sublime - Don't Push Miss Platnum - Mercedes Benz Benni Hemm Hemm - Beginning End Pizzicato Five - Twiggy Twiggy vs James Bond Bobby Hutcherson - Components Mark Ronson and ODB - Toxic Coldplay - In My Place Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band - Calling Fever Ray - Concrete Walls Kaiser Chiefs - I Predict a Riot

QUOTE (The Bones @ Jan 19, 2011 -> 12:30 AM) I think 6 of mine make the list. Also, I did not vote Mumford & Sons #1. That is a mistake. Just wanted to clear that up. You are correct, Mumford and Sons made multiple lists, at lower levels however. Sorry for the error.

The Top Five of 2010 are up. Thanks to all those who submitted lists, we came up with a pretty good selection.

5. Kid Cudi - Man on the Moon II 22 points - top rating Heads22 - #1 Cudi's sophomore album, Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager,[22][23] was released on November 9, 2010.[30] A promotional single, "REVOFEV", was released from the album in early 2010. The official lead single, "Erase Me" featuring Kanye West, was released for airplay on June 30, 2010. The single was officially released on iTunes on August 24, 2010 and debuted at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100 earning the status of "Hot Shot Debut".[31] Cudi appeared as himself in the 10th episode of the 8th season of the CW TV show One Tree Hill dated November 29. From the Spin Review 4. Sleigh Bells - Treats 25 Points - top rating GREEDY #2 Based in Brooklyn, New York, Sleigh Bells are composed of Derek E. Miller (songwriter, guitarist, producer) and Alexis Krauss (vocals). Miller was formerly the guitarist for the hardcore band Poison the Well, and Krauss was a member of the teen pop group Rubyblue. Krauss also appeared in a Nickelodeon Magazine commercial as a young girl. From the Pitchfork review 3. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs 32 Points - top rating GREEDY #1 Arcade Fire is an indie rock band based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada The band consists of the husband and wife duo of Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, Will Butler, Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury, Jeremy Gara, and Sarah Neufeld. The band play guitar, drums, bass guitar, piano, violin, viola, cello, double bass, xylophone, glockenspiel, keyboard, French horn, accordion, harp, mandolin and hurdy-gurdy. The band takes most of their instruments on tour, and the multi-instrumentalist band members switch instrumental duties throughout their shows. Arcade Fire have won numerous awards, including both the Meteors 2008 Best International Album award and the Juno Awards 2008 Alternative Album of the Year award for Neon Bible. It has also been nominated for the Best Alternative Music Album Grammy in 2005 for Funeral and in 2008 for Neon Bible. Arcade Fire released their third studio album, The Suburbs, in 2010 to further critical and commercial success, receiving another Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Album, as well as a nomination for Album of the Year. The LA Times review 2. Eminem - Recovery 38 points - top rating ChiSoxSonix and Steve9347 #1 Marshall Bruce Mathers III, better known by his stage name Eminem, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Eminem quickly gained popularity in 1999 with his major-label debut album, The Slim Shady LP, which won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. The following album, The Marshall Mathers LP, became the fastest-selling solo album in United States history. It brought Eminem increased popularity, including his own record label, Shady Records, and brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition. From the Culture Bully Review 1. Kanye West - My Dark Twisted Fantasy 73 points - top rating #1 (Five Lists) Kanye West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and Janet Jackson. His style of production originally used pitched-up vocal samples from soul songs incorporated with his own drums and instruments. However, subsequent productions saw him broadening his musical palette and expressing influences encompassing '70s R&B, baroque pop, trip hop, arena rock, folk, alternative, electronica, synth-pop, and classical music. From the Rolling Stone Review

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 15, 2011 -> 04:30 PM) Um, when the entire world's governments are out to get you, I'm pretty sure you are pretty important. That said, I think the calls to prosecute are nonsense. And I generally support wikileaks. It does more good than evil. It just helped bring down a dictatorship and I am pro democracy. I doubt he's really all that important in the grand scheme of things, and he seems to play the role of douchebag pretty well.

Albums 10-6 are now listed. The Top Five are coming soon!

10. Vampire Weekend - Contra 15 points - top rating RexKickass - #2 Vampire Weekend is an American indie rock band from New York City that formed in 2006 and signed to XL Recordings. The band released its first album Vampire Weekend in 2008. The band's most recent album, Contra, was released in 2010. Initial copies of the CD and LP sold at independent records stores in the US include a 3-track bonus CD containing two "melts", which featured bits of album tracks and a remix. Contra was the band's first album to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200. From the AV Club Review 9. Against Me! - White Crosses 15 Points - top rating Cali #1 Against Me! is a punk rock band formed in 1997 in Gainesville, Florida. Their first full-length album, released on No Idea Records in 2002, was Against Me! Is Reinventing Axl Rose. They have released music on Misanthrope Records, Crasshole Records, Plan It X Records, Sabot Productions, No Idea Records, and Fat Wreck Chords. In December 2005, they signed with Sire Records, and released their major label debut, New Wave on July 10, 2007. Their second album on Sire, White Crosses, was released on June 4, 2010. From the Culture Bully review 8. Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz 16 Points - top rating TheBones #2 Sufjan Stevens (pronounced /ˈsuːfjɑːn/ SOOF-yahn; born July 1, 1975) is an American singer-songwriter and musician born in Detroit, Michigan. Stevens first began releasing his music on Asthmatic Kitty, a label co-founded with his stepfather, beginning with the 2000 release, A Sun Came. He is best known for his 2005 album, Illinois, which hit number one in the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart, and for the song "Chicago". The NME review 7. B.o.B. - The Adventures of Bobby Ray 17 points - top rating ChiSoxSonix and Heads22 #5 Bobby Ray Simmons, Jr. (born November 15, 1988), also known by his stage name B.o.B, is an American rapper and record producer. He is currently signed under the labels of Grand Hustle Records, Rebel Rock Entertainment, and Atlantic Records. His debut single "Nothin' on You" reached number one in both the United States and the United Kingdom. "Airplanes," B.o.B's second single, emulated this success, peaking at number one and number two in the U.K. and the U.S., respectively. His third single, "Magic," became B.o.B's third consecutive top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100. B.o.B was named the ninth Hottest MC in the Game of 2010 by MTV. From the LA Times Review 6. Drake - Thank Me Later 17 points - top rating Mhizzle85 #2 Aubrey Drake Graham (born October 24, 1986), who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing character Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation. In June 2009 Graham signed a recording contract with Lil Wayne's Young Money Entertainment. In November 2009, Lil Wayne released a statement announcing that Drake's first studio album, Thank Me Later, had been completed. The album was released on June 15, 2010, and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. From the Pitchfork Review

Next five albums in the list revealed tonight!

15. The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang 11 points - top rating Cali - #3 The Gaslight Anthem are an American punk band from New Brunswick, New Jersey, consisting of Brian Fallon (lead vocals, guitar), Alex Rosamilia (guitar, backing vocals), Alex Levine (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Benny Horowitz (drums, percussion, tambourine). They released their first album, Sink or Swim, on XOXO Records in May 2007, and their second album, The '59 Sound, on SideOneDummy Records in August 2008. The band's third album, American Slang, was released on June 15, 2010. From the AV Club Review 14. The Black Keys - Brothers 12 Points - top rating PlaySomeFnJourney #3 Brothers was released on May 18, 2010, featuring a 15 track listing. The album was produced by The Black Keys and Mark Neill, and was mixed by Tchad Blake.The song "Tighten Up" (featured on the FIFA 11 soundtrack) was released before the album as a single, along with "Howlin' for You" (featured on the NHL 11 soundtrack) on the B-side. Brothers sold over 73,000 copies in its first week, giving it a #3 ranking on the Billboard Albums chart, their highest yet. Furthermore, the single "Tighten Up" has become their most successful single, reaching the top spot on the US Alternative charts. The Brothers CD has a thin thermal film on the surface, which changes colors depending on the temperature of the surroundings and ranges from completely black to a creamy surface with writing when placed in a CD player. From the Rolling Stone review 13. Beach House - Teen Dream 13 Points - top rating RexKickass #4 Beach House is an American indie rock duo formed in 2004 in Baltimore, Maryland, consisting of French-born Victoria Legrand and Baltimore native Alex Scally. Their self-titled debut, Beach House, was critically acclaimed. Their second release, Devotion, was in 2008. The band released their third studio album, Teen Dream in January 2010, also to positive critical and commercial reaction. The NME review 12. Spoon - Transference 14 points - top rating PlaySomeFnJourney #1 The band was formed in late 1993 by lead singer/guitarist Britt Daniel and drummer Jim Eno, after the two met as members of The Alien Beats. The name Spoon was chosen to honor the 1970s German avant-garde band Can, whose hit song "Spoon" was the theme song to the movie Das Messer. Eno describes Spoon's music as "rock 'n' roll." From the Pitchfork Review 11. LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening 14 points - top rating BigSqwert #2 LCD Soundsystem is a musical project fronted by American musician, songwriter and producer James Murphy, co-founder of record label DFA Records. It has released three critically acclaimed albums, with 2010's This Is Happening also charting in the Billboard Top 10. From the LA Times Review

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 12, 2011 -> 06:33 PM) Link The good news is that there is also a bill making it back out on the floor to put a bulletproof glass barrier between the gallery and the rest of the House, so the gallery should be safe, LOL.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 12, 2011 -> 11:36 AM) And the posts about the Dem Rep who called for shooting the governor of FL... It wasn't missed. Someone else posted it actually in another thread.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 12, 2011 -> 12:45 PM) Hm. Usually I like me some Bernie, but this was a stupid set of things to put in the same letter. Agreed.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jan 12, 2011 -> 10:18 AM) tweeted by Olbermann That's kinda just what I was thinking reading Palin's statement.