There was this musical enhancement, birthed in Spain, called the Reactable.
What the Hell?
It consisted of a round table that, when only black lights were on, showed various shapes and images. Then, you would place these block-like pieces, called Tangibles, on these shapes and images that the table projected, and it would create a sort of synthesizer. Depending on the placement, and the connection between the Tangibles, it could make different sounds.
This seems kind of complicated. There’s a lot involved, a lot of movement. I’m all ready tired.
But wait. It’s 2009. Obviously, there’s something better.
Doesn't look much better. But it is.
They are just called audio cubes. Very simple. No need for a blacklit table, or certain placements for the Tangibles…because all there is are cubes, that could be placed on any surface, and they make music. Watch it below.
They hook up to a USB port, and there are numerous programs that work with these cubes. A French designer worked with the creators of the Reactable in order to improve the technology. It’s still in the works right now, but it’s suppose to be commercially available soon.
It definitely has its ups and downs. Underdog (hear it below) produced by Da Grindaz has one of the coolest up-beat live-band tempos I’ve heard in a while. Song for Every Ex on the other hand sounds like bad Kanye meets bad Usher.
But on a mixtape I don’t expect perfection.
What I like about this 10.Deep release (they also put out Wale’s A Mixtape About Nothing and Kid Cudi’s A Kid Named Cudi) is that it isn’t all tits, ass and cash, heavy, beyond recognition blaring bass like so much southern rap. Don’t be led astray though, you’ll hear about booty. Just not…you know, the whole time.
I listen to Diary of an ATL Brave and I think, is this what would have happened had T.I. started hanging out with Rockafella instead of Arista?
Maybe that’s a stretch. Either way, give DONNIS an ear. If a 10Deep release is any indicator, he’ll be big on the scene real soon.
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Underdog
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Michael Jeffrey Jordan is being inducted into the Basketball Hall Of Fame on Friday September 11. To mark the occasion ESPN.com is posting videos of Jordan’s top 23 moments of his career along with accounts from the men who played with and against him. I can honesty say I’ve never heard more sincere words of respect and even awe from one athlete talking about another let alone from basically every other player of that era. That’s why you know MJ was the greatest. That’s why he’ll always be “The Man”.
It comes as no surprise that our country has a bit of an issue with obesity. If you don’t believe me visit an IHOP, or the south. To compound the obesity epidemic that ravages our country KFC has come out with a new sandwich in select locations which seems like something reserved for the pages of This Is Why You’re Fat.
The sandwich (if you can call it that) replaces bread with fried chicken and is filled with cheese and bacon and some mysterious concoction known as “Colonel’s Sauce”.
My mouth is both watering and holding back bile.
For now it is being test-marketed in Rhode Island and Nebraska. But rest easy, if I know this country as well as I think I do, then the Double Down will be coming to a town near you soon…ya fatty.
Add it to the list of pseudonyms for Southern California legend Madlib, including Quasimoto, Jaylib, and Madvillain.
Expected out this Fall, the deep, harsh voice of Guilty Simpson lays lurid lines over the always killer Madlib beats. Expect features from Elzhi and Strong Arm Steady on this 14 track full length.
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O.J. Simpson – Coroner’s Music
Speaking of Strong Arm Steady, Madlib is finishing up production of an album for the Talib Kweli signed LA-based duo.
There hasn’t been an official release date on this endeavor, but there’s a cool featured artist line-up, including Madlib’s younger brother Oh No.
And what? There’s even more (and another one of his guises).
Madlib took on the act of a one man jazz band, under the name “The Last Electro-Acoustic Space Jazz & Percussion Ensemble” and is putting forth a 36-minute track in September in his Fall Suite.
Right here is a five minute sample:
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I saw this and had to share it with the beloved notdrugs community. Only the awesome power of Steven Seagal himself could keep me from watching this new show:
In this day and age when all the hype is about breaking athletes down and assuming guilt from guns to ‘roids, I’d like to take a minute to remember one of the great sports heroes, well, ever. Ken Griffey Jr. was a model everything. He’s probably the last pure, 5-tool baseball player that could truly do everything on the field better than anyone else and who you just knew (knock on wood) was doing it clean. He had a crystal clear record off the field and a smile that could (and did) sell just about anything. Basically he was the second coming of Willy Mays in an era where he could really be marketed. In case all you remember is the video game, it went a little something like this back in the day:
And you know you’re big when you get a cameo with the Fresh Prince:
Heck, even in his dwindling years the man could still sell anything, even the state of Ohio!
Griffey isn’t dead, or even retiring, but with Plax about to get locked up and new steroids stories breaking every month, I wanted to cheer everyone up with a bit of a look back at a Sports Star who really did it right.
Yes. It happened. Our internet dependent hypochondriac society has declared being dependent on the internet a disorder, Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD). If you don’t believe me, check out the rehabilitation center, reSTART’s website, (ohh the irony) follow them on Twitter, or become a Facebook fan.
Don’t let this happen to you.
What makes you an internet addict? According to Dr. Hilarie Cash, PhD of Internet and Computer Addiction Services, (seriously) an addict is somebody who responds positively to five or more of these symptoms:
1 Increasing amounts of time spent on computer and internet activities
2 Failed attempts to control behavior
3 Heightened sense of euphoria while involved in computer and internet activities
4 Craving more time on the computer and internet
5 Neglecting friends and family
6 Feeling restless when not engaged in the activity
7 Being dishonest with others
8 Computer use interfering with job/school performance
9 Feeling guilty, ashamed, anxious, or depressed as a result of behavior
10 Changes in sleep patterns
11 Physical changes such as weight gain or loss, backaches, headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome
12 Withdrawing from other pleasurable activities
Wanna see the first admitted patient?
The best, and I mean the best part about this crock? Their address is a couple blocks from the Microsoft headquarters: 777 Internet Avenue.
As I post this, I’m watching a story about a woman who’s house flooded in my hometown and she’s so happy she saved her cat. That is NOT news. Your best friend’s girlfriend of 4 years just broke up with him. That is NOT news. You broke your foot. That is NOT news.
When Slug of Atmosphere and Murs and Aesop Rock say their coming out with a new record soon, that IS news.
Which is exactly what happened recently at a Slug and Murs concert at Red Rocks in Colorado.
Felt is the collaboration between Murs and Slug regarding who could sleep with certain Hollywood actresses. (Straight up.) The first was “Felt: A Tribute to Christina Ricci” and the 2nd was “Felt: A Tribute to Lisa Bonet”. There’s no word on who the third album will be dedicated to, but the fact that Aesop Rock is producing means it’ll be dope if it was Meryl Streep.
Letham over there, he tells me I want too much. I want everything. That’s not too much. At least I don’t think so.
I’ve been watching this Jamaican Usain Bolt, fly about the World Championships in Berlin. He’s broken his own world records (from the ‘08 Beijing Olympics) in the 100m and 200m sprints, and just took a third gold in the 4×100m relay.
People say he’s the best ever.
Last year everybody was all about Michael Phelps. “He’s the best Olympian ever!” “He’s the best athlete ever!”
And I say really?
I want to know who is the best athlete ever. (side note: I’m not talking team sport athletes. There’s no way to quantify the athleticism of Jordan, Favre, Pele, Russell, Federer, Kobe, A-Rod, Pujols, the list goes on. It can’t, more so, I won’t. Not yet.)
So let’s get to it.
My main measurement is how greatly these athletes have depreciated their event’s record. That seems like the best way to compare how they have affected their sport’s history.
Other things to take into consideration: age; number of championships competed in.
Things considered negligible:
Technical-ness. Swimming is all about techniques, small hand & feet adjustments in stroke. But so are fast-twitch events such as 100m & 200m. The ornate details fade in both sports, as the distance increases.
Usain Bolt (6ft 5 inches, turned 23 yesterday) currently holds two individual world records, the 100m and 200m dashes.
Bolt has also lowered the 100m WR from 9.74 to 9.58, a 1.642 percent change. Usain here, he’s lowered the 100m record more drastically than anyone ever before.
Bolt has lowered the 200m WR from 19.32 to 19.19, a .672 percent change.
What’s wild? Michael Johnson, who previously held the 200m record, and still holds the 400m WR, reduced the 200m WR by over 2%. For Bolt to equal what Johnson did to the 200m, he will have to run 18.93. Shoot.
He ran more faster in a 200 than anyone else has.
Michael Phelps (6ft 3.5inch, 24) currently holds three individual world records (we’re not counting relays, remember), across two disciplines: 100m Butterfly, 200m Butterfly, and the 400m Individual Medley(fly-back-breast-free).
In the 100m fly, Phelps has taken the WR from 51.76 seconds down to 49.82 seconds. This is a 3.748 percent difference.
In the 200m fly, Phelps has taken the WR from 1:55.18 down to 1:51.51. This is a 3.186 percent difference.
In the 400m IM, Phelps has take the WR from 4:11.76 down to 4:03.84. This is a 3.186 percent difference.
Phelps, statistically, has done a lot more. Now there’s a couple things to look into:
1) Swimming records are broken much more frequently. All of the records are from 2008 and 2009, except for the 1500m freestyle, from 2001. The records in track & field span rather smoothly across the last two decades.
2) Competitions.
Phelps has competed in, and dominated two Olympics & three World Championships.
Bolt has competed and dominated one Olympic Games and just finished his first World Championship. Difference: track requires, oh how do I say it, more physical maturity. While Phelps was raking in golds at 18, Bolt won a number of titles in his youth, including being the youngest person to win the 200m Junior title, at the age of 15.
The decision?
If they both retired today, Phelps wins. It’s impossible to compare medal counts, because there are so many more swimming events.
So Winn, what do you think Bolt needs to run to set the bar even?
If Usain Bolt breaks 19 seconds in the 200m, and 9.3 in the 100m, he will be the best implement-less, individual athlete, performance and comparatively speaking to have ever walked the earth.
