Return of Grooveshark

My newest iOS devices are UNjailbroken and I've really been fiending for the jailbreak benefits - including Grooveshark. I checked their website, via my 4S, though, and it had a beta option that didn't let me log into my account but definitely let me play music of my choice.

I thought any big Grooveshark fans (who weren't lucky enough to download it when it was in the App Store) would be pleased to hear about this.

Also, I'm still mildly salty about not knowing Grooveshark was in the App Store until AFTER it was pulled, so I'm trying to share information the way I'd want it shared with me.

Romney Rap

Source: http://youtu.be/bxch-yi14BE

You're welcome.

My First Time

It's hard to see, but below is a picture of my first time.

I have to say, it was a great performance. Yes, there were a lot of white people involved. What of it?!

So, yeah. Christmas carolers (sp?) pleasantly surprised me, this chilly, Winter evening. They even had a near-Tiny Tim moment when they sent a tiny, blond girl to come over and give me piece of paper (advertising their church or something).

Too bad my camcorder wasn't still charged.

Anyway, it was a pure Christmas moment. Thanks for that, kind holiday strangers!

Mary, Mary, Mary

I am the only one who love, LOVE, LOVES this Chevy Traverse video featuring Mary J. Blige?



I don't care about the vehicle too much but c'mon, old school, new school, and even... uhh... I guess we'll call her "Middle School" Mary J. You just can't beat that. Plus, it actual incorporates a theme that's common to a couple of her more recent tracks.

Check This Riff

I'm about to spoil a movie for you - a Jack Black movie that most of you (the 1.3 folks who still read this blog) wouldn't see, anyway. That movie is "Tenacious D & The Pick of Destiny" (or something like that).

If you don't want it spoiled, stop reading now. If you HATE all rock music, stop reading now. If you have even a mild appreciation for rock, profanity, and/or Jack Black, read on.

Now, lemme tell you: I had no interest in seeing this movie, but it happened to be on one of the HBO's that I stopped on for a while. Despite how much unfunny stuff I saw, I'm SO glad I finished watching it. Below, you'll find out why.

You won't get all of the references in this movie clip, but that's okay. All you really need to know is that the two silly, aspiring rockers' search for a pick (as in guitar pick) which would fulfill their musical dreams. This pick came from the devil's tooth and was once responsible for his being imprisoned.

And now, I give you, the climax (and near conclusion) of the Tenacious D movie:



That was pure, unadulterated awesome AND YOU KNOW IT!


By the way, highlight the following for a neat lil fact about that clip: "The Devil" was played by Dave Grohl, formerly of Nirvana, and currently of Foo Fighters.

♪ Read a $#^$ ^%*%^in' Book! ♪

This hilarious bit o' BET animation slipped past me, somehow. Luckily, the kind folks at 4thletter hooked us up.

Lemme know what you think.

(Not safe for work unless you have headphones and an obscured monitor screen.)*

* - There's no nudity, but there is profanity and a couple of mildly out-there scenes.

REVIEW: Noise-Cancelling Headphones

In the past, I've talked about noise-cancelling headsets which filter out background noise. Today, I'd like to briefly talk about noise-cancelling headphones which use technology to filter out background noise, making it easier for you to listen to music and other audio.

If you like, just skip to "The Bottom-Line" for my recommendations.


Below are three noise-cancelling headphones I've tried out, recently:
* QC3 - Bose QuietComfort3 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones ($349)









* MDR-NC6 - Sony Noise Canceling Headphones ($49.99)













* MDR-NC50 - Sony Noise Canceling Headphones ($199.99)













Sound Decision.
Let me begin by saying that I'm not the audiophile that some people are (like Harv Laser at TreoCentral.com). I won't be focusing on the audio range technical specifications. If I can hear the voices, highs (like violins), and lows (bass) pretty well, then I'm happy. Sony and Bose are well-known for audio quality, so I've no concerns there. Perhaps Bose has a slight edge over Sony, but I didn't notice it. Sound-wise, all three headphones are impressive.

With that in-mind, the noise-cancelling feature will be my main focus. So, let's get down to it.

Bose wins.
Thanks for stopping by.

Deal or No Deal.
Okay, it's not quite that simple. While the QC3 has the most active noise-cancelling system, it's also the most expensive of the three. At $349, the QC3's cost almost twice as much as the $199 NC50's and a whopping SEVEN times as much as the $49 NC6's.

So, the main question becomes: "Is the noise-filtering difference directly proportional to the price difference between these headphones?"

In a word, "No."

Quiet As It's Kept.
While the QC3's filter noise somewhat more effectively, the NC50 benefits from "cans" which completely surround my ears, providing a physical barrier to complement the noise-cancelling circuitry. The result is a very similiar filtering experience.

Both headphones are good at eliminating much of the ambient noise which can interfere with one's listening experience. Of course, closer individual voices will still be audible as will other sounds that don't contribute as much to the general cacophony surrounding you. However, if you're in a mall or convention center or airport where there's a general hum of people walking, salesmen talking, and jet engines blasting, you'll find that, with these headphones, you'll still be able to hear your favorite tunes - without having to crank up the volume so high that you risk damaging your hearing.

The NC6's, as you might expect, don't filter out the background noise quite as effectively, but they're still very effective and, at $49, definitely worth consideration.

Too Close For Comfort.
The QC3's are smaller than the SONY models, so they're easier to transport. Sometimes I have to take my headphones off, while doing something else. The easiest place to hang them is around my neck. Larger headphones can be rather cumbersome and uncomfortable at the throat, so the QC3's have the advantage, there.

Power Play.
The QC3's have a built-in, rechargeable power source, so there are no AAA batteries to keep up with. Still, AAA batteries are pretty cheap, so keeping a spare around is much easier and less expensive than the $50 extra battery for the Bose model.

The QC3 even offers an optional cellphone package, enabling you to use them with your mobile phone to listen to music AND take calls. That's a great option, but it's also an additional $39.98.

Not Ready for Prime-Time.
Sony's NC6 model is comparable to Bose's QC2, which goes for $299. They're so similar in quality that I can't see buying the QC2's under any circumstances. If you're going to spend three hundred bucks, you may as well spend another fifty and get the QC3's. Those who bought them before the QC3's were released, of course, didn't have that option.

Again, the NC6 is just as good as the QC2 and, at fifty bucks, is a fraction of the cost.

Conclusions.
So, with all that information, how's a person supposed to make a choice? Well, based on nothing but quality, I submit the following:

GOOD
Sony NC6: Get'em if you want very good noise-filtering quality, at an affordable price. Last I checked, Amazon offered a set for $35.

BETTER
Sony NC50: Get'em if you want exceptional quality, but aren't prepared to drop almost four hundred bucks after taxes.

BEST
Bose QC3: Get'em if you want the best of the best and have more $$$ than the rest. You'll love'em.

Honestly, as long as you can afford'em, you'll probably be pleased with whichever set you get.

The Bottom-Line.
My recommendation: At fifty bucks, the Sony NC6 headphones offer the best bang for your buck.

And, for putting up with me for so long, here are a couple of tips:
1) If you ever want to try out a pair of noise cancelling headphones, test them without music playing through them. That's the best way to see how well they filter out background noise.

2) These headphones are also good if you're ever trying to have a conversation in a noisy location (and leaving isn't an option). Two people, in close proximity, both wearing noise-cancelling headphones, will be able to hear each other very well, without the distracting din of their surroundings.

Harping on Hip Hop

I know some folks are too quick to yell "RACISM!" I generally try to avoid jumping that particular gun, but I don't know if the following qualifies or not:

The title of today's episode of CNN's Paula Zahn Now is "Hip-hop: Art or Poison?".

The write-up on their site says,

"Shocking images and lyrics have America asking if hip-hop has gone too far. "Hip-hop: Art or Poison?" A Paula Zahn prime time special. Tune in Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET."

Of course, there are obvious comparisons between this debate and those of the mid-1900's about Rock N Roll. So, I find myself wondering if the apparently middle-aged Zahn never learned or has forgotten the lessons of that era.

Beyond that, though, I have to wonder why these questions would apply to Hip Hop in the 21st Century and not Rock N Roll or any other musical genre.

The episode's title seems to be equally interrogative and declarative. After all, for it to be a question even worth the on-air asking, one must consider there to be a strong case to be made for BOTH sides.

I mean really. POISON?
It's music. Some of it is awful, some of it is great, and a lot of it is somewhere in-between.

And again, I wonder why it's only this music, largely performed by Black artists, that merits such a broadcast.

"BeBe! CeCe!"

I'm extremely fond of their music, but I didn't know that Whitney sang this song with them.

"Hold Up the Light"

Tyrese - More Than Meets the Eye?

Tyrese Gibson is in the upcoming Transformers film. I knew that, already, but I still wanted to see what he had to say about it.

What I didn't know was that he'd recently released a double album - apparently flexing his r&b AND rap muscles.
I've gotta tell you, I've never seen anyone so hyped about a music project - or maybe ANY project.

He's got me really interested in all of it.

You can check out the interview here.



EDIT: Pic added for the ladies (and I guess some of the gentlemen, as well).