tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20707969765941069702024-03-13T09:41:37.480-05:00rj_munthe blogsits about music, ponderings, and other things on my mind. no one reads this anyway, so i'm using it for my college writing class!Ryan Munthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064962447358706899noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2070796976594106970.post-52301743952961304262010-10-15T09:40:00.002-05:002010-10-15T09:49:14.274-05:00Green campaigns make me vomitFrito-Lay, makers of Sun Chips, recently pulled the "biodegradable" bags from the popular snacks because people claimed that the bags were too noisy. This is ridiculous, considering Frito-Lay has been trying to market themselves as environmentally friendly for a while now and this just cements my opinion that all these "green" campaigns by businesses are nothing more than lousy public relation campaigns to make the company seem sympathetic.<br /><br />I don't believe in Global Warming, but our wastefulness is quite a nagging problem so when a company starts a green campaign, I'm usually intrigued. Worst comes from Coca-Cola, whose highly-touted recycling campaign has given them bundles of positive PR, yet, the company continues to operate their massively polluting plant on the holy river of the Ganges. Coca-Cola, we're not *all* stupid, you can stop trying to pull the wool over our eyes, now. Just admit you are trying to look good, and being a typical capitalist, and I'll stop complaining.<br /><br />UNT's "We Mean Green" program is laughable, as a few electric cars and ticking students off over parking doesn't make you environmentally friendly. All your gas-guzzler maintenance vehicles need to be changed, and maybe once you start using different power sources other than coal you'll "Mean Green". And I don't even believe in global warming and this greenhouse gas crap, it's all just made up mumbo-jumbo by Al Gore in attempt to scare the masses and make people think he invented the internet. The Earth will warm and cool, it's part of a natural cycle, I think our strong atmosphere is strong enough to be able to break down carbon monoxide and I have scientific facts to back me up if you'd like to see. Yet, UNT, if you are going to make yourself seem all high-and-mighty environmentally friendly, actually do it. Stop posing.<br /><br />I'm just so sick and tired of fake businesses trying to appeal to mind-numbingly dumb mass audience who believes the companies actually care for anything other than their bottom line.<br /><br /></vent>Ryan Munthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064962447358706899noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2070796976594106970.post-39623411730992147542010-09-15T09:14:00.002-05:002010-09-15T09:31:38.658-05:00"A bookstore is one of the only pieces of evidence we have that people are still thinking" -Jerry SeinfeldI really have begun to question whether people actually think anymore, so I completely find this quote as truthful. Today, when everyone lives on the internet, plays video games all day long, and simply finds ways to shut themselves off it's nice to see the traditional bookstore making a revival. Hell, you can go to Barnes and Noble on a Saturday or Sunday and have absolutely no place to sit other than the floor because there is someone in every single chair or seat reading a book. That I find to be amazing, because it seems like books require far too much thinking for our generation to comprehend.<br /><br />Maybe I'm just a bit too narcissistic but I really question whether or current generation is as smart as the ones in the past, with our iPhones and Xbox 360s making us oblivious to the world (I have an iPhone and an Xbox as well) but I really wish that people would step back for a bit and do something that requires thought, inspiration, or is maybe a bit challenging. It surprises me when I hear my friends tell me they enjoyed my editorial in the Daily because, honestly, I figured no one read anymore, and if they did, they read an article on WFAA that was the entire length of 5 sentences. Gee, this makes me sound pretentious.<br /><br />But that's why I feel Jerry Seinfield's quote an extremely true snippet of our culture. People simply don't appear to think anymore; yet the continued relevance of the bookstore proves that-to a point-people actually do think, and maybe I'm wrong. But it sure doesn't seem like it. I get bewildering stares when I read in the Lyceum Lounge between Writing and Government. People drop their jaws and ask why when I tell them I'm dropping by Recycled Books (which by the way is the greatest book store of all time) or Barnes and Noble.<br /><br />Yet, I have a pretty big point which proves the lack of thinking skills our generation has. Look at the radio and the music that is popular. In the past, you had The Who, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin all be majorly popular music acts. Everyone knows them. They all had extremely technical, emotionally-driven music that required a bit of thinking skills to fully enjoy. Even pop music had Michael Jackson, who was extremely talented, to prove that the public still had a bit of brains. The rock stars have now become bands like Nickelback who sing about how they have sex and memories over and over again to the exact same guitar riff, all this screamo junk which is pure nonsense, and in pop music, with the exception of Lady Gaga who actually is talented, you have people like Ke"$"ha (yes, it's spelled that way) singing about how the "party doesn't start until I walk in" or Taylor Swift, which needs no explanation. This is proof of how people simply don't think.<br /><br />So, yes, the bookstore is one of the last remaining pieces of evidence that people are still smart, and still think. But what happens if that bookstore, a seeming last cradle of intelligence, goes away?Ryan Munthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064962447358706899noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2070796976594106970.post-9305736029471563122010-09-09T21:48:00.002-05:002010-09-09T22:00:40.450-05:00Rude People...So, I'm sitting here in bed in my dorm trying to figure out what to write about, and these stupid people upstairs sound like they're either freaking wrestling or playing basketball upstairs. What the hell? I mean, do you not have any common courtesy, especially at 9:51? I mean, these girls have been running up and down our hall, slamming doors, laughing loudly, banging crap. I don't understand why people have to be so rude. I mean, yes, I understand it's a college dorm-and Clark at that-but, seriously, where is your filter?<br /><br />That brings me to a bigger issue. Its surprising to me when I get a door held open anymore. As I walked to class earlier, I got honked at by a driver as I walked across a crosswalk, when they are supposed to yield for me. Screw you, whoever you are. I'm sorry I wasted 5 seconds of your life.<br /><br />I really can't stand living in a dormitory. People are inconsiderate. And stupid. Let me move into an apartment already, at least I can complain and get something done, other than our bullcrap RA who does nothing whenever I ask him anything. He always just says "I'll get on it." Nothing ever happens. Once, an alarm clock went off for 2 hours in someone's dorm. 2 hours. Maybe just this college, and this city are rude. I really don't know. Although, I did have the world's rudest Journalism teacher last year.<br /><br />I really wish there'd just be a bit of courtesy, but in today's society, that's just too much to ask. Ever try driving recently? In Denton, they have all these small entrance ramps. A COP SPED UP SO THAT I COULDN'T MERGE ON. YES, a COP. Even the cops are rude.<br /><br />All I'm asking is just to be a little bit nicer. Not much. Just be a bit friendlier, if you can.Ryan Munthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064962447358706899noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2070796976594106970.post-21755999323733428712010-09-01T10:17:00.003-05:002010-09-01T10:28:54.129-05:00Commonplace Blog..."Let's see you do better than the President."<br /><br />You know, I'm really tired of hearing people tell me this. I saw it on Facebook, after one of my friends posted that he's tired of hearing people complain about President Obama, I posted my dislike with him, to which he replied "You are just like everyone else. Let's see you do better than him."<br /><br />Well, of course I'm not going to do better than he is. But isn't that why he's the President? To do the job most people don't want to do? I certainly don't want the responsibility of an entire country on my back. I disagree with Obama, and greatly don't like him because I feel he does a bad job. Yet, why do I get attacked by people for criticizing him? Obviously I couldn't do as good of a job as he does-yet, that's not my job, nor my place. He hasn't lived up to his promises, and his policies go against everything I believe in. So, yes, I'll criticize Obama even if I know I couldn't do as good of a job as he does.<br /><br />The American society nowadays is built on the fact that we aren't strong enough to be the President, usually, so we elect someone to do that job for us. We are a Representative Democracy. A representative democracy relies on criticism and competition from the American public, and from his opposite party. That's why I feel it's great when someone criticizes the President, even though they wouldn't do as good. Some people tend to be ridiculous, and take for granted their life as American, their rights, and I really tend to think they would be fine letting a dictator take over because "you couldn't do better". I'm the type of person who would die for his beliefs, speaking out against a dictator. Well, why not speak out against the President in a society that thrives on expressing your opinion?Ryan Munthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064962447358706899noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2070796976594106970.post-9374596055753372852009-10-27T09:45:00.002-05:002009-10-27T10:31:15.153-05:00NFL Week 8 Power RankingsEveryday, the NFL is starting to look more and more like baseball. Teams getting blown out, teams that are indestructible (see Colts and New England), and teams that are perennially bad. Some teams are already dreaming of the Super Bowl and others are already looking to next season and it's not halfway yet.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1. New Orleans Saints (6-0)</span><br />When you can go into Miami, and come back with a win after being down 24-3 while throwing three interceptions, you deserve to be the best.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />2. Indianapolis Colts (6-0)</span><br />Not any team has come close to scaring Indy, but look for some harder fought games down the road for this dominating football team. Look for two hard games against Houston, a collision against New England, and one against the Broncos. Then we'll see how good Indy really is.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">3. Denver Broncos (6-0)</span><br />Denver's magical run may come to an end in Baltimore or Pittsburgh, both teams on the rise, while Kyle Orton can't play like this forever.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">4. New England Patriots (5-2)</span><br />Perhaps, maybe New England was over at the beginning of the year. Unfortunately, think not. This team is as good as ever. Karma over the Tennessee game will come back to bite Belichick soon, however.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">5. Minnesota Vikings (6-1)</span><br />The Steelers are on a roll, and Minnesota shouldn't beat themselves up for losing to them. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">6. Cinncinati Bengals (5-2)</span><br />They got embarrassed at home by a dominant team flying under the radar and everyone jumped ship? Why? Because it's Ohio.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />7. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)</span><br />Two elite running backs in Pittsburgh have helped the Steelers win four in a row, when most teams just want one elite running back.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />8. Dallas Cowboys (4-2)</span><br />We may see a return of the Tony Romo media circus ever since he's found Miles Austin as a beautiful replacement to Terrell Owens. <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />9. Arizona Cardinals (4-2)</span><br />Three hard fought wins, one decided by a yard, proves that the tough Arizona team from last year has made a triumphant return.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">10. New York Giants (5-2)</span><br />Eli is struggling, as are the Giants right now.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">11. Green Bay Packers (4-2)</span><br />An easy schedule can't hide the fact that the Green Bay offense is very, very good. <br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">12. Atlanta Falcons (4-2)</span><br />Atlanta is quite the Jekyll/Hyde team. After dominating San Francisco, Atlanta gets dominated in Dallas. Go figure.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">13. Philadelphia Eagles (4-2)</span><br />You can't lose to JaMarcus Russel's Raiders a week ago and expect to be in the Top 10, even if you beat the lowly Redskins.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">14. Houston Texans (4-3)</span><br />This weekend's game was a hard-fought one, which showed us a lot about this Houston team. Two back to back wins may show this team finally becoming one of the top 10. They need a statement in Buffalo to prove that, however.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">15. Baltimore Ravens (3-3)</span><br />Baltimore may have dropped three, but eventually their defense will wake up. Then it will be lights out for their opponents.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">16. San Diego Chargers (3-3)</span><br />The Chiefs are quite pathetic, yes. Infighting has begun in Kansas City, yes. But San Diego still humiliated the Chiefs. This team still is a questionable pick, however.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">17. San Francisco 49ers (3-3)</span><br />Their defense held one of the NFL's leading offenses in the second half. Alex Smith dominated their defense in the second half as well. Things are on the up for 'San Fran'.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">18. New York Jets (4-3)</span><br />It's the Raiders. Settle down New York and realize that Sanchez needs to stop throwing interceptions, and Rex Ryan needs to stop eating Doritos.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">19. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-3)</span><br />Jacksonville's cakewalk schedule will continue to roll out the red carpet, as they play the Titans on Sunday, and likely go 4-3. This team is, however, not very good.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">20. Buffalo Bills (3-4)</span><br />The Bills are hot, but have an uphill battle this week against a stout run defense and an electric offense in Houston.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">21. Chicago Bears (3-3)</span><br />Jay Cutler must be on pace to throw a world record in interceptions. Things are bad in Chi-Town, but if the Bears lose to the Browns, it'll be a world of hurt for Lovie and Da Bears.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">22. Miami Dolphins (2-4)</span><br />I am sick and tired of this overrated Miami team. Yes, they scored quick in New Orleans, but their offense isn't built to last more for a quarter with that wildcat gimmick and their defense is spotty at best.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">23. Seattle Seahawks (2-4)</span><br />What an old, boring football team. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">24. Carolina Panthers (2-4)</span><br />I heard a rumor about Jake Delhomme trying to ki...nevermind. Jake is far from the "Snake" we knew back in the day.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">25. Oakland Raiders (2-4)</span><br />One thing I have learned about the Raiders in 2009 is that you shouldn't criticize them. Tom Cable WILL find you. But I will say JaMarcus Russell is the biggest bust in the last twenty years.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">26. Detroit Lions (1-5)</span><br />At least Detroit is playing with some heart...I mean, they've got *something* to build on.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">27. Washington Redskins (2-5)</span><br />Things have deteriorated for Washington over the course of the season, and will, most likely, continue to as the Zorn circus continues to roll on.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">28. Kansas City Chiefs (1-6) </span><br />Props to Larry Johnson for calling out Kansas City for being a bunch of bums. Well, without the three letter gay slur, of course. Thanks, Twitter!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">29. Cleveland Browns (1-6)</span><br />At this point, Mangini might want to make sure his house has a good alarm system. Those Browns fans are, well, he'll find out soon if he leads the Browns to their worst season since they came back.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">30. Tennessee Titans (0-6)</span><br />Well, I knew that Tennessee would be this bad this year. Did anyone else? Doubt it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-7)</span><br />At this point, Tampa is begging for good ol' Jon Gruden back. There's a great chance Tampa may go 1-15.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">32. St. Louis Rams (0-7)</span><br />The wheels are spinning but the car ain't moving.Ryan Munthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064962447358706899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2070796976594106970.post-24431614701826023742009-09-08T17:57:00.003-05:002009-09-08T18:00:40.650-05:00Muse's New Album...is not so good.<br /><br />Very disappointing.<br /><br />Outside of the amazing "Unnatural Selection" and "Exogenesis", everything that made Muse unique is...gone.<br /><br />Odd. It was as if the album was made directly for people who heard Supermassive Black Hole in Twilight and liked the funky style. I mean, where's the falsetto ("New Born") or even the screams (think "Hyper Music"). Maybe if Muse's heavier side showed up like "Assassin" or "Plug In Baby" I'd be more satisfied. But it's lackluster. <br /><br />"Undisclosed Desires" is like a lost Justin Timberlake song and "I Belong to You" is like Maroon 5. Seriously, what is going on Bellamy's head. This is the most commercial album I've heard in a while.<br /><br />Full review coming soon.Ryan Munthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064962447358706899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2070796976594106970.post-29550504522698125602009-08-25T23:38:00.009-05:002009-08-25T23:56:19.523-05:00To quote Thom Yorke, "I Might Be Wrong"...I was at a Texans game the other night. After seeing a 4 year old child on a leash, I've made the assumption that our times are not as messed up as we think they are. How can it be any different than the 1950s when people couldn't walk outside without worrying the Kremlin was going to drop an A-bomb on their idealistic town?<br /><br />We're all so scared of the world, and how "back in my day, we could spend all day outside and not worry about being kidnapped". Unfortunately, we're all way too aware because of tabloid news and television stations who make their news on the gruesome. And you all pay their bill so they can scare you. Ironic, isn't it?<br /><br />It's really not any different. People are deathly scared of their children being taken advantage of "child predators". Why is it they are only scared now? Seriously, mental disorders are not "new". These mentally unstable people have always been alive. They've always been taking advantage of situations. They haven't been publicized by the news and parents until recently.<br /><br />For example, I'd hate to live in the 50s. Between worries about the Atomic Bomb, yeah, you could go outside if you didn't come back inside without worrying about your father beating the living crap out of you. How's that for the "good ol' days"? Kids were safer out of the house then, and in my opinion they still are.<br /><br />Hypocritical parents are to blame. How can you expect to discipline your kids when you lack discipline and screw their lives up? Seriously, divorce is awful on a child's psyche. Don't be a hypocrite and THINK about your children before you act stupidly by divorcing. You made the decision to have kids and you have to suffer so that kid can grow up and be happy.<br /><br />Simply, our fault is we are way too aware. Let's all go back to being ignorant again, shall we? Life would be a whole lot simpler, and I think we'd all seem a whole lot smarter.<br /><br />Maybe I'm way off base and our time really is whacked out. But I'm pretty sure I'm right on.<br /><br />Wow, by the end of this post it's looking more and more to me *the parents* are the one who need to be on leashes.Ryan Munthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064962447358706899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2070796976594106970.post-76172492853258317752009-08-21T00:35:00.009-05:002009-08-21T14:03:47.453-05:00Chevelle Sci-Fi Crimes 4.5/5To quote online music database Allmusic’s review of <span style="font-style:italic;">Vena Sera</span>, "Anyone left looking for a little more, well, they’ll be left looking." This quote describes what’s held Chevelle back for years and what makes <span style="font-style:italic;">Sci-Fi Crimes</span> such a massive success. Chevelle successfully does that little bit more on their latest album, and the result is their most distinguished and exceptional album in their catalogue. Nearly abandoning the cliché loud/soft dynamics and overused angst-ridden vocals, Chevelle has settled for a more experimental sound much pulled away from their past albums-even the massive success of <span style="font-style:italic;">Wonder What’s Next</span>. But fans won’t be left missing the early days of Chevelle, they'll only be left eager to hear more. <span style="font-style:italic;">Sci-Fi Crimes</span> shows Chevelle’s persistence to be something more than mindless alternative rock. The guitars and dynamics merge with Pete Loeffler <span style="font-style:italic;">finally</span> coming into his own vocal style, backed up by layers of raw distortion. Guitar solos emerge among songs that previously would have been left bare. Acoustic songs and interludes are put in place of filler songs (<span style="font-style:italic;">Midnight to Midnight</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">An Evening with El Diablo come to mind</span>). There’s simply no below average songs on <span style="font-style:italic;">Sci-Fi Crimes</span>; you can easily listen to the CD from start to finish without skipping a song. Chevelle does everything that they've done right on past albums, and doesn't do what they've done wrong before. This album's mixture of grit and groove will be enough to let Chevelle fans embrace this album, and all music fans to embrace this band.Ryan Munthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064962447358706899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2070796976594106970.post-72735056507343388172009-08-19T11:44:00.002-05:002009-08-19T11:54:29.201-05:00Muse may very well save rock music...I've been enamored by one of the most over-the-top and absolutely ridiculous rock bands recently, and this band happens to be a three-piece band from Britain with a fairly large back catalog. I've always been exposed to Muse however, I remember hearing Time is Running Out and not being impressed when it was new, and then hearing Black Holes and Revelations after it was given to me from some free release thing somewhere. But whatever the case, and however you may feel about Muse, it's amazing that they've gained as much popularity as they have. Muse is no normal "rock band", they are a hybrid of borderline alternative metal, art rock, progressive rock, and electronica. Not to mention, lead singer Matt Bellamy likes to sound like Radiohead with his insane falsetto and his unique voice. But it's amazing that this band has gained as much popularity as they have. A band that has been touting their new album-"The Resistance" as an amazingly over-the-top album with a "three-part symphony" shouldn't have gained as much popularity as they have.<br /><br />In Britain, they've sold out Wimbley Stadium every time they play, and now they are opening up for U2 in America, with a lot of people I know going to see Muse foremost, and U2 just so they can say they've seen U2. With all of these garbage rock bands and rap music we've had to wade through since the beginning of the decade (Nickelback and Soulja Boy come to mind), it's pretty astonishing to see a band that actually makes fun, original, and actually makes "albums" that are meant to be played as an "album" gain as much popularity as they have.<br /><br />That's why I think Muse may be the band to help save rock music. The end of all this "emo", "post-hardcore", "post-grunge" crap led by bands like Saving Abel, Nickelback, and Anberlin is coming, and I can't wait if radio and the masses will willingly indulge bands that have ballooned recently like Muse, Silversun Pickups, Shinedown, and Mute Math. But don't forget the awesome new songs by Chevelle and Alice in Chains that have been dominating airwaves too. Maybe there's a bit of hope, that's why I'm putting it all on Muse and hoping they'll be the band to save rock music.Ryan Munthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064962447358706899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2070796976594106970.post-5284841112281349462009-08-16T23:52:00.002-05:002009-08-16T23:53:37.402-05:00The Beginning of Something...I've been told by a variety of people that I should get a blog, and I figured it'd be a good way to get a lot of anger out, and well, my voice out on the internet, so I think it's a good idea in all actuality. I'll try to keep it updated and use it as an outlet about music, everyday life, politics, and other things I'm interested in.<br /><br />Try and keep up.Ryan Munthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064962447358706899noreply@blogger.com0