When Clinton walked into office he had a weak economy...not as bad as this one but it was pretty bad and did not get better until AFTER he was reelected. Americans keep holding on to the dreams of how when Bill Clinton was in office the economy was thriving and great, nobody really knows what type of economy he walked into when Sr Bush left and how long it took for him to turn it around. What gets me about Americans is that we live in a world were people don't want to work their way up slowly and carefully, they want a short cut and a quick fix. Rather than take the time and work carefully, they want things to happen over night.....it can't work that way because if the President finds a short cut to fix the mess that we're in, WE WILL end up in the same position that we are in now....but a whole lot worse....then what? And as far as the media coverage of the election goes, I hate these pundits...talking news heads more than I did in 2008. They knew better when they were slobbering over Obama when he was a candidate, they knew better when they were ogling over Sarah Palin (Which was UTTERLY disgusting) and now they want to attack him all because he can't get the job done quick enough. These "experts" who go on TV saying what the President should of done or what he shouldn't be doing....it's utterly laughable.
WHY in the world are there Romney supporters out there? I really don't get it. I really don't see his appeal at all.
It really baffles me how some of these Romney supporters out here will make some of the dumbest remarks about everything Barack, his wife or children do. First of all ,we have those ridiculous birth certificate claims that have been dragged through the mud, yet these Mitt supporters don't have a defense for him NOT EVEN RELEASING HIS TAX RETURNS. Hypocrisy at it's finest.
Secondly, some of the worst Romney supporters out of the bunch ARE racist. I don't care what anybody says. I'm not going to say everything negative thrown at Obama is racist, but when you liken the first family to MONKEYS, and use terms like "N____r" as a detriment to the president on your online commentaries, then that constitutes as racism. Also, what's with these dumb comments about the cost of Michelle's dress at the DNC? Can't a woman wear something nice without all that backlash?If Ann Romney can wear a dress that costs more than FOUR TIMES Michelle's, then surely the 1st lady can wear a dress significantly cheaper without problems, no?
I thought so.
Back to Romney, though.
How can any person support someone who wants to raise loan costs AND reduce pell grants, takeaway a woman's right to choose, and is the finest example of a bigot?
He can tout economics all he wants but social issues are just as important to the presidential race.
It's pathetic that Republicans are doing everything to suppress people's votes so they can sit their and shove those fraudulent "morals" and "values" down MY throat. There's only so much stupidity one can deal with and I've seen enough. The fact that people will vote for this man just because they hate Obama is ridiculous and really makes me wonder about America
There are two kinds of evil people in the world... those who do evil stuff, and those who see evil stuff being done and don't do anything about it.-Tina Fey
In my opinion, a selfish “not in my backyard” attitude is part of the reason why our society is so jacked up and social injustice continues to exist. When we advocate for someone else, we advocate for yourself because it could easily be you that’s getting the short end of the stick. Furthermore, if you ever do hit an obstacle, you’re going to wish someone gave a darn to stand up for or help you. Anytime we turn a blind-eye to injustice or inequality, we are potentially responsible for human suffering. It is our problem. We are all humans. What goes around comes around. We need to realize and embrace the power of the energy we put out (or don’t put out) into the world. It’s the ripple effect at its best.
I'm going to make this short and sweet. So with the nearing of the 2012 election, results show that Obama & Romney are close in the polls. Obama may or may not have a 2nd term. Many have complained that Obama just isn't getting the job done and a new president is the answer. None of the problems Obama has to tackle happened overnight, so they're not going to get fixed overnight. If we get a new president, he or she isn't going to magically fix everything in one term either. On that note, a quick fact check never hurt anyone.
It used to upset me when politicians say bigoted or hateful things about a certain groups of people, but now I can appreciate blatantly prejudice remarks, because at least I know where that specific politician stands. When politicians try to disguise or sugarcoat their biased views, I think it’s that much more insulting because now you’re lying, trying to deceive people and cowardly hiding your opinion.
"channel Orange is
the debut studio album of American singer-songwriter Frank Ocean,
released July 10, 2012, on Def Jam Recordings. After releasing his
2011 debut mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra, Ocean began writing the album
with creative partner Malay, who then assisted him with its
recording. Eschewing the mixtape's reliance on samples, Ocean wanted
to approach sound and song structure differently on Channel Orange.
He recorded most of the album at East West Studio in Hollywood and
worked with other musicians, including Pharrell, Om'mas Keith, John
Mayer, and André 3000. Ocean titled the album as a reference to the
neurological phenomenon grapheme–color synesthesia and the color he
perceived during the summer he first fell in love. To prevent the
album from leaking onto the Internet, Ocean released Channel Orange
digitally one week earlier than its publically announced date. It
debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200, selling 131,000 copies
in its first week, and charted in several other countries, including
Norway, where it reached number one. The album was promoted with
three singles, including Ocean's highest charting single "Thinkin
Bout You". Upon its release, Channel Orange received rave
reviews from music critics, who praised its idiosyncratic style,
musical scope, and Ocean's songwriting. Ocean toured in promotion of
the album in the United States and abroad during July to September
2012. As of August 5, the album has sold 238,000 copies in the US,
according to Nielsen SoundScan"
Track 1: Start
45
seconds of unintelligible words, laughs, and the sounds of someone
turning on a PlayStation. Unnecessary.
Track 2: Thinkin' About You:
“Thinkin
Bout You” creates a gloomy, forlorn atmosphere that will either
bore or touch the listener. Frank bemoans a past relationship over a
dreary backdrop composed of a slow, throbbing beat, woozy
synthesizers and woeful strings. After rambling disingenuously about
surviving a hurricane and owning expensive beach properties among
other things, Frank ponders if his past lover he thinks about so much ever
thinks about him. During the bridge, an acoustic guitar plays as he
proclaims that he’ll never forget this person, despite the fact that
he has probably forgotten. This track has an air of
hopelessness to it that doesn’t fail to depress the listener; it
can really make one feel sorry for Frank.
Track 3: Fertilizer
“Fertilizer”
is little more than a corny jingle that would sound right at home in
a commercial. The sounds of a television changing channels probably
indicate that this track was meant to be something of a commercial
break. ‘Fertilizer’ is synonymous with ‘manure’, which is cow
feces, hence “Fertilizer, I’ll take bull**** if that’s all you
got!”
Track 4: Sierra Leone
This track begins as Frank reminisces on a past relationship that
perhaps occurred when he was a teenager. He sings about growing up in
Sierra Leone and staying warm under its pink skies. The African
nation of Sierra Leone, I’d say, is quite obviously used as a
metaphor for a woman whom he loves(d) and the piece about keeping
warm under its pink skies is clearly symbolizes having sex with this
woman. He goes on to fantasizing about raising a baby girl with her.
Complete with a sweet 70s Soul-style instrumental, the track is
short, but incredibly sweet.
Track 5: Sweet Life
“Sweet
Life” is about as jovial as this often dismal album gets. The
instrumental oozes of 70s Funk and Jazz with its live drumming,
electronic keyboard, synths, blaring brass horns and funk-filled bass
line. It is elegant and fits the cleverly written lyrics, which
detail a decadent, luxurious lifestyle, like a glove.
Track 6: Not Just Money
The
sixth track on the album is a skit which features an older woman,
perhaps a motherly figure, educating Frank on the importance of
money.
Track 7: Super Rich Kids
“Super
Rich Kids” describes the social, mental and emotional poverty
experienced by the children of the wealthy. These children have
plenty of money, cars, clothes, food and drugs, but lack devoted
friends, parental guidance and love. This brings the main character
of the story to attempt suicide. Somehow, Frank succeeds in making
the listener feel sorry for bratty, misbehaved, privileged children
with all the resources in the world at their finger tips. Bravo!
Track 8: Pilot Jones
“Pilot
Jones” serves the most boring instrumental on the album. The lyrics
detail a rocky relationship with a woman who both uses and sells
drugs. Despite the danger she puts herself and Frank in my continuing
such a career/lifestyle, Frank can’t seem to let her go. This woman
is more addictive than any drug.
Track 9: Crack Rock
The
eight track on the album offers a useful message about the abuse of
narcotics. The lyrics discuss the lives of many struggling drug
addicts. They are suffering from a disease that takes unfathomable
amounts of effort to cure. No understands that and no one understands
them; not even their families who have shunned them; not even
prostitutes. Addiction is no laughing matter. I applaud Frank for
tackling such an important topic.
Track 10: Pyramids
The
focal point of “channel ORANGE” is a two-part, ten minute-long
epic which depicts the fall of a legendary, African queen. The first
segment of the track features futuristic production comprised of a
funked-up bass line, pounding club beats and house synths that marry
Funk and Electronica. Frank puts the listener in ancient Egypt and
portrays himself as a distraught King panicking after the
disappearance of Pharaoh Cleopatra. He fantasizes about a future with
Cleopatra and laments over her infidelity before discovering that she
has committed suicide. After a simply delightful dance breakdown, the
track transitions into the next segment which takes place in modern
times. The instrumental become a smooth R&B slow jam complete
with a thumping beat, a heavy bass line, synths and muted saxophones.
Frank is now a poor pimp who lives off the income of his prostitute,
whom he calls Cleopatra. He croons about making love to this
gorgeous woman before the track ends in a guitar solo by John Mayer.
I have read a few articles/blurbs about the meaning of this complex
track. Some say the transition between the two segments indicates
that the first was a dream sequence and the second was real life. One
said that the death of Cleopatra and the prostituting of her
counterpart 2000 years later is a play on the decline of Black people
around the world. I, myself, am not too sure what exactly
Frank was trying to say with these lyrics. One thing I do know is that this song is absolutely brilliant and probably
will not be matched by another this year. Mr. Ocean is today’s
premier lyricist.
Track 11: Lost
“Lost”,
which features an Indie Rock-heavy instrumental, is about a
weak-minded woman under the control of a manipulative man. She is
under the impression that she is being taken care of by a good,
loving, faithful man who only seeks to benefit her and improve her
situation when in reality, she is little more than mailcarrier for a drug trafficker. This girl cannot think for herself.
Whenever she has doubts about their relationship and the lifestyle
she is being forced to live, this man effectively reassures her with
feeble, yet convincing arguments. The sad thing is there are many
girls just like her.
Track 12: White Feating John Mayer
A
guitar solo by John Mayer. What a waste of an instrumental! Oh well.
Track 13: Monks
Frank
tells a story about female groupies whom he encounters in several
parts of the world. In order to escape their mundane lives, they
travel around the world, following popular musicians, in pursuit of
the high life. Eventually, these girls catch up to the rich, famous
men they pursue, but get caught up in drugs and never find inner
peace.
Track 14: Bad Religion
“Bad
Religion” begins with sounds of blaring church organs that are only
fitting for a religion-themed track. Frank addresses the daunting
topic of unrequited or unreturned affection. He has fallen in love
with a “heterosexual” male friend of his whom, of
course, does not feel the same way that he does. In the company of a
Muslim taxi driver, he discusses the pain of his ordeal, likening it
to joining a suicidal cult. He also laments about not being able to
speak freely and openly about his bisexuality. Frank delivers a
marvelous vocal performance, showcasing his soft falsetto in the
chorus of the song. Deep. Personal. Emotive.
Track 15: Pink Matter Featuring. André 3000
“Pink
Matter” is Frank’s meditations on a woman’s worth in song form.
His discussion with a sensei, which probably represents his inner
conscious, begins peacefully, but grows turbulent. His sensei or his
conscious, tells him that a woman is meant for much more than sexual
intercourse and reproduction, the same way the human brain is much
more than storage room for the mind. He tells Frank that a woman is
there to love, aid and improve a man, not just please him sexually
and bear his children. Frank’s only problem is that his current
woman satisfies him sexually, but does not satisfy him mentally or
emotionally. The instrumental is essentially a slow beat with an
electronic keyboard and a faint bass guitar riff. André 3000 makes
his presence known with a decent guest rap verse and his trademark
bluesy, Idlewild-ish vocals. This track sounds right at home on an
Outkast album.
Track 16: Forrest Gump
The
sixteenth track on “channel ORANGE” is little more than a
slightly happier rehash of the second and fourteenth tracks that
happens to use characters from a somewhat iconic 1994 Tom Hanks film
as metaphors. Forrest Gump, the main character of said film, played
on a college football team for a while; he always managed to get the
ball to the end zone, but he continued running even after the goal
was won. Similarly, Frank’s love interest indulged their romance
shortly (he ran to him), but then broke things off, in denial of his
sexuality (he ran off).
Track 17: End
The
final track is light and airy. Complete with lush, tropical (yet
slightly messy) production and smooth vocals, the song is perfect for
a visit to the beach.
Overall:
“channel
ORANGE” is a brilliant triumph on the male R&B front. Frank
Ocean has succeeded in doing what many, if not all, of his peers have
failed to do in the past year. He has put together an exemplary piece
of work that features clever, thoughtful lyricism and uncommon,
un-generic, innovative instrumentals. More importantly, he has
created something that matches or maybe even surpasses his earlier
work. The classic Soul, infectious Funk and revolutionary Indie Rock
that permeated the American music scene in the 1970s make a dazzling
reappearance in many songs on the album. Frank gives new life to
these long-dead genres by fusing them with Electronica, House and
Contemporary R&B. Ocean also does a particularly great job of
demonstrating his talent for songwriting. In almost every song, Frank
tells a fantastic story that hooks the listener in and provokes
emotion and deep thought, often leaving them with a difficult puzzle
to solve (concerning the meaning of the song) and a subtle, but
useful and relatable message. The lyrics generally address the ups
and downs of romance as well as the thrills and dangers of a
decadent, luxurious lifestyle. Frank’s vocals are nearly perfect;
he interprets his lyrics with feeling and delivers them smoothly. He
never yells or strains himself. The album does have its
faults, however. Depending on one’s mood, some tracks can be a bit
bland and boring. “Pilot Jones”, for example, is an absolute
snooze. But masterpieces like “Pyramids” and “Bad Religion”
make up for any and all of the album’s flaws.
