The Vondelpark

vondelpark.tumblr@gmail.com
May 8
Bikini Bar no more

Bikini Bar no more

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Behold: Star Wars makes Star Trek its little bitch.

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Listening to the new Green Day album, 21st Century Breakdown. A fun listen. But that might be more a criticism than a compliment when it comes to the band behind Kerplunk and Dookie. It’s really quite sanitized, and highly produced, and too pretty/perfect. Very enjoyable, but it seems to have no more lasting impression on my brain than caffeine free diet Coke (which, by the way, tastes like death). By comparison, have a listen to the upcoming Cobra Starship/Leighton Meester track “Good Girls Go Bad” and stand it next to almost anything on the Green Day album (when the GD record comes out next week). The music from both bands—while different—has that same how-can-I-object? infectious cleanness, that paint-by-numbers hit-maker quality. But hey, both Cobra and Green Day have churned out some enjoyable music—music that I enjoy—so who am I to protest?

Listening to the new Green Day album, 21st Century Breakdown. A fun listen. But that might be more a criticism than a compliment when it comes to the band behind Kerplunk and Dookie. It’s really quite sanitized, and highly produced, and too pretty/perfect. Very enjoyable, but it seems to have no more lasting impression on my brain than caffeine free diet Coke (which, by the way, tastes like death).

By comparison, have a listen to the upcoming Cobra Starship/Leighton Meester track “Good Girls Go Bad” and stand it next to almost anything on the Green Day album (when the GD record comes out next week). The music from both bands—while different—has that same how-can-I-object? infectious cleanness, that paint-by-numbers hit-maker quality. But hey, both Cobra and Green Day have churned out some enjoyable music—music that I enjoy—so who am I to protest?

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I Know I'm Way Late On This...

…but I’ve never been more disappointed in Barack Obama than I was when I learned he orders his burgers medium well. Slather on all the elitist, terror-loving mustard you want, but keep a little pink juicy goodness, Mr. President, rather than that abomination of a charred hockey puck you’re content to shovel into your mouth.

May 4
“ A large part of the secret of President Obama’s political success is his self-presentation as calm, judicious, and fair-minded – and his ability to depict his opponents as intemperate and extreme. You’d think by now that Obama’s opponents would have figured out this trick. You want to beat him? Great. Be more calm, more judicious, and more fair-minded. Don’t be provoked. Don’t throw wild allegations. Don’t boycott. Don’t lose your temper. Instead, we get Anger Theater. It’s not smart. And it’s not working. David Frum (via andrew sullivan)
April 27

My Swine Flu Pitch...

…at this morning’s meeting did not go over well. Apparently it’s in poor taste to write about getting survival tips from movies about massive outbreaks of disease like “28 Days Later” and “I am Legend.” Lame.

April 26

John Murtha’s posh, passenger-less airport.

Politico:

Amount of federal cash received: approx. $200 million
Flights per day: 3 (all to Washington, D.C.)
Approx. number of passengers per day: 20
Amount of stimulus cash received: $800,000
Taxpayer subsidies per plane ticket: $100/or half
April 25
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April 15
“ Lemme get this straight: to protest wasteful spending, you bought a million tea bags. Are you protesting taxes or irony? Jon Stewart (via inothernews) (via ackb) (via notthatkindagay)