I wanted to write this for a long time, but only now I had time!
1) Music
My favorite song from 2011 was LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ6zr6kCPj8&ob=av3e
The Halloween Lights version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfcNoMnKjrY&feature=share
It was basically the song that took over the world this year by storm!
LMFAO already had some minor hits before that song, but THIS will likely be their #1 song in their career! The song is THAT great!
The song had a techno/rave vibe, and it had 2 guys rapping over it! A great crossover hit for both the techno fans and the hip-hop fans!
And I remember this past New Year's Eve celebrations at Aloha Tower Marketplace, this was the 1st song after the midnight's fireworks! :) :) :)
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Some wondered if Britney Spears could still stay relevant! She's in her early 30's, like me! She has younger competitors like Lady Gaga!
But yes, Britney Spears remains relevant! She got one of my favorite songs of the past year. That song is "Until the World Ends"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usGeunZ2iUU
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There was a YouTube sensation Rebecca Black with her song "Friday"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfVsfOSbJY0
Some criticized her for not having the perfect voice!
Some have made fun of some of the lines in the songs!
So she didn't sing the song from a mature, sophisticated perspective? SO WHAT, SHE WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL! You were in middle school at one point in your life, right?
Even worse, some have made some severe hateful criticisms and vicious videos and comments against her and the song!
WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THOSE PEOPLE!
This song is about having fun on a Friday! What the hell is wrong with that!?
She didn't sing about using drugs or drinking alcohol! There were no ethnic or sexual minorities insulted in that song! There's no violence in that song!
If that song (or any song) is not your style, just ignore it, say nothing and move on!
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Other favorite songs from the past year!
I also like AfroJack's song featuring Eva Simons "Take Over Control"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUoOcDGMgT4
Usher's "Without You"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZBZ84Za_5s
Hot Chelle Rae "tonight"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzlNFcT2aOE
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I haven't paid as much attention to the hardcore rap or heavy metal like I used to! I still listen to some of the old classics from those genres! But they don't get the attention like they used to! Society we live in just isn't hardcore as it used to be!
And I don't have as much time to keep researching those genres like I used to!
But here's one song from last year that that I like, that combines heavy metal and rap!
Jensen Reed "After the War"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zieK4lM0go&ob=av2e
2) Sports
I already mentioned my thoughts on the UH football changes going on! Check it out at
http://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2011/12/uh-football-coaching-changes.html
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As for UH volleyball, the Wahine did very good! They only lost 2 games. Those 2 games just happen to be against teams based in Los Angeles - UCLA and USC!
UCLA was the only team UH lost to in the regular season! They also won the national championship!
USC beat UH in the playoffs!
Some complained about coach Dave Shoji not winning championships anymore! While I would love to see a championship from the Wahine, let's not forget that the Wahine volleyball ONLY LOST 2 GAMES this season!
We got a great group of volleyball players coming out of Hawaii high schools every year! We just need to take away 1 or 2 recruits from UCLA/USC territory, then we can be champs!
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UH basketball men's -- started off slow, but with Miah Ostrowski done with his football duties, the Rainbow Warriors are on a roll!
As for the UH women's basketball -- yes we added Kalei Adolpho (also plays volleyball) and Vicky Taglicod (transfer) this past month, and things are improving slowly!
But being this is the 3rd year under Dana Takahara-Dias, things really need to improve quick! 3 losing seasons got Bob Nash, Fred von Appen and Bob Wagner fired! Hopefully, it doesn't need to happen to Takahara-Dias!
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For the pro's, I just want to talk about NFL's latest icon Tim Tebow!
Tim Tebow is similar to Micheal Vick in a few ways
Both Vick and Tebow are quarterbacks who are better at running the ball than throwing the ball!
Both Vick and Tebow are cultural icons, in ways that aren't always about their playing abilities.
Before the dogfighting controversy, Vick was a cultural icon for the hip-hop generation! He once represented the Atlanta Falcons, playing in a once-segregated city that is now the center of African-American culture! He was the hero for many young African-Americans in the South who were happy to see one of their own playing quarterback, which was traditionally seen as a "white position".
However, the dogfighting controvery alienated many people! I admit that when the dogfighting investigation came up, I was worried that this could have become a racially divisive issue! I still remember the OJ Simpson case, in which many European-Americans thought OJ was guilty, but many African-Americans felt OJ was being picked on for his race!
However, once Vick admitted to the charges and took responsibility for what happened, that in itself saved the country from another needlessly race controversy!
Now Vick is the symbol of Rehabilitation, a symbol of millions who were once incarcerated but now getting a 2nd chance in life!
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Tebow is also a cultural icon for another group that feels misunderstood by the larger society -- evangelical Christians.
Tebow was from a Christian missionary family, known to assist faith-based charities, praise Jesus Christ in every interview, and is known to kneel down in prayer on the football field!
Some people have complained about Tebow's public display of his Christian faith!
But even though I'm not an evangelical Christian, I don't have any problem with Tebow expressing his faith!
I am very critical of religious fanatics, ranging from Islamic Fascists to bigoted Christian pastors like Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell! I also put presidential candidate Rick Santorum in that category!
But I don't think Tebow is a religious fanatic! He is WAY MORE FOCUSED on charitable missions than in condeming non-believers! Even though I'm pro-choice on abortion, I don't think Tebow's pro-life ad was that offensive, all it did was mentioned his mother saying she had a troubled pregnancy but decided to take the risk, then give birth to Tim!
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I hope to see Vick and Tebow great success this coming year! I love to see quarterbacks making opponents think "is he going to run or is he going to throw"! I also hope to see Vick continue being the symbol of "2nd chances" and Tebow as the symbol of "charity missions"!
And I hope everyone is having a great start on 2012!
