R: Consonant or Vowel?

This is quite random but I've been playing a lot of scrabble on facebook (challenge me if you dare!) and I've just come to the conclusion that, by all accounts, 'R' is a vowel. Mostly because I had two R's and no vowels, but also because R is unlike any other consonant in the alphabet.

A consonant is defined by "The place of articulation is where in the vocal tract the obstruction of the consonant occurs, and which speech organs are involved. Places include bilabial (both lips), alveolar (tongue against the gum ridge), and velar (tongue against soft palate). Additionally, there may be a simultaneous narrowing at another place of articulation, such as palatalisation or pharyngealisation." Basically I think this means that your lips have to touch, or your tongue or some type of differentiation in how you expel air as you speak.

If you go through the alphabet right now aloud or silently, it holds true for all consonants except for R. Basically, from what I read about how you sound a vowel, R holds up as a vowel. Obviously It's too late to change that alphabet around and making R a vowel doesn't make any sense. But still, someone like Webster or Oxford or whomever owes me an apology and a thank you 8 million dollars. As always, go big and what not..

-M, p, z & shredder

oh ps - I suppose the vocal cords might contract barely while saying R but that doesn't justify it being a consonant. if one were to make a Venn Diagram of vowels and consonants, I'm pretty sure R would be chillin in the weird oval in the middle.

Running Mate...

So my boy, Obama, is supposed to pick his running mate soon. I can't remember ever caring so much, or finding this particular selection as important as it is now. In 04 I was all about John Edwards in the primary and when he lost, the one thing that made me really want John Kerry as president was that J.E. was his running mate. In retrospect, I guess it's a good thing the Democrats didn't have another adulterer in the White House.

This election seems like a toss up though. It seems like there are people from both parties going over to the other side. People who liked Hillary might vote for McCain and people who hate Bush might be voting for Obama. I guess that's why his running mate is so important. It really will capture the votes that he needs to win some swing states. I think going with someone from Ohio or Pennsylvania would be a smart move if he thought it was going to come down to Ohio. The Governor of Virginia Tim Kaine, seems to be getting quite a bit of attention, but I don't know if he's my guy. I think he's got what Obama needs as far as getting a more conservative vote, or getting some of the Hillary votes that are going to McCain but I don't think he should be the choice.

If it were up to me, I'd be choosing between Gov. Richardson of New Mexico and Sen. Biden from Delaware, both of whom were presidential candidates. I know there hasn't been much mention of Richardson in VP talks but I think they are both great choices even though they have very opposing opinions on many things. I think Richardson would be the best for "change" and would help to usher in the new generation that Obama (hopefully not rhetorically) talks about all the time. He's very pro-alternative energy. Very pro-bringing-home-the-troops. Essentially he's a really smart left wing guy who isn't some crazy radical. On the other hand I think Biden brings in a little bit of reality to Sen. Obama's "fairytale." Biden is a guy who's been around for a long time and I think he is a really good person to bring in to counter all of McCain's "war experience." Biden knows his stuff and has really good foreign policy ideas as far as what to do in Darfur and about getting out of Iraq as far as energy dependancy goes.

I guess in a perfect world Richardson would be VP and Biden would be some sort of official or Secretary of State. But chances are that won't happen. To be honest, I think it's tough enough trying to elect Obama without adding a Latino to the ticket in Richardson. Unfortunately this country is still filled with people who would vote against either of them or both of them just because of their name or ethnicity. It boggles my mind that the number of people who believe Obama is a Muslim is actually increasing.

Anyways, we'll find out soon enough I suppose. Just wanted to put my two cents in before an announcement was made. As always, go big.

-M, p, z & shredder

oh ps - just an fyi, i get a lot of the pics I post here from the nytimes as it's my homepage and occasionally I'll see something that'll make me want to blog or that I've been meaning to talk about. just wanted to mention that in case people thought I was stealing topics or thoughts from there.

Job Hunting...

So I've been out here for almost 2 weeks now and I've been job hunting for one of those weeks. While there are a lot of jobs that I could do, the reason I am in NYC is to find a job doing something (anything) in film or television. Unfortunately the job market for my specific niche is about the same as the entire job market in Michigan: it's awful. So I guess if I don't have any solid indications that something will happen in the next few days/week, I'll get off my ass and be a regular joe shmoe until I find a job that I want. Job hunting is the worst though. I am admittedly pretty awesome and it only takes a minute for me to prove it to most people (the only people that don't think I"m awesome are the ones that end up hating me which I'm okay with), but it's hard to prove it to someone when you can't even get an interview.

This is essentially my life right now:

Oh, you're looking for someone who has a degree with a background in writing and critical thinking who also went to film school and loves film and tv production and is wiling to start at the bottom even though you should put him at the top? What a coincidence! I happen to embody exactly what you're looking for!! Here's a cover letter and a resume...Hello? Hello?! Crap.















Anyways, other than that I have been kicking ass and taking names. Not really. I've been sitting around trying not to spend any money since I have none and organizing my small room to make it seem not so small. As far as the Olympics go, I've been watching a little randomly but only really interested in basketball. To be honest, I have this unnatural resentment to Michael Phelps. By all accounts he seems to be a nice guy and obviously a tremendous athlete. It has nothing to do with him going to U of M and hating him for that because I didn't really like him before he went there, I should actually be proud that he lives in the same city where I grew up. But for some strange reason I just can't get behind him. I mean I want him to win, but I feel like it's only because I feel like I have to or someone will strangle me with an American flag. I mean look at him, look at how excited and pumped he is. How does that not pump me up? Am I insane? Does anyone else feel me on this or am I alone?

I am also looking forward to this years fall tv shows. Last year there seemed to be about 50 new shows and I didn't really get to see a lot of them that I wanted to but all the ones I loved got renewed and will be on soon. It is very strange though the way TV has a "season" like they're a sports team. It's kind of silly really. My favorite show on TV is Psych. It's on USA on friday's at 10. It's hands down the funniest show on TV and I love a good funny/detective/buddy buddy show. But the best part? USA doesn't adhere to a 'season.' They air shows whenever they want. For Monk and Psych they have new episodes that air from July-Sept-ish and then Jan-April-ish. It's awesome. Everyone else has reruns of god awful BS shows like Two and a Half Men and USA is showing brand new hilarious high quality shows. I don't get why more networks don't capitalize on the fact they no one else is airing anything worth watching. I watch 2 hours of TV a week and it's on Friday nights from 9-11.

I'm just rambling. I actually had a few things I wanted to talk about but since I always fly off on tangents I can never remember them. Anyways, keep your ear to the grindstone. Go big..

-M, p, z & shredder

Olympics...

So the Olympics started. China spent over $300 million dollars on the opening ceremony which is kind of absurd for many reasons. Is it just me or does there seem to be a ton of hype behind this years summer olympics. I don't remember the games being so pumped. I have been really pumped about the new "dream team" for a long time but other than that, the only thing I really look forward to is diving. So I tried to watch some events that I don't usually pay attention to and I have to say, there is no doubt in my mind why they call them 'games.' Air rifle is an olympic sport? It's not a sport, it's a game. Anyways, they should put some crazy games in there that are fun to watch, like paintball and stuff. That would rule.

The PGA championship did all it could to grab my attention without Tiger playing in it. It literally took Ben Curtis reppin the D with a Lions hat, Sergio going for his first major, the fact that it was in Oakland Hills (the only major course I've ever played (and in the D)) and a putt on 18 for the win to keep me from changing it to America's Best Dance Crew (supa crew what!).

Sad weekend on the whole though. Issac Hayes and Bernie Mac were legends. Bernie Mac cracks me up. His voice slayed me and the looks he could give people with his eyes was ridiculous. He was the only funny part in any of the Ocean's movies and The Bernie Mac show might be one of the most underrated sitcoms.



Anyways, go big or go home.

-M, p, z & shredder