Kentucky Derby- Poem

 

The horses ride,

in the dirt,

as one wins,

and others lose

a most famous race,

for horses,

for people,

Kentucky,

everyone

every first of May,

on a Saturday,

the horses race,

and the people watch,

the colorful hats,

the women wear,

every,

single,

year,

signifying how rich they can be,

knowing that their horse will win,

the drink of choice,

mint julep,

a drink of alcohol and mint,

who wants one?

the drinks are one thing,

a party,

is another,

having a party outside,

as you bet on a horse,

and hope,

you win,

the money,

wearing the hat,

and being part,

of the fun

sometimes,

it will fall,

on Cinco De Mayo,

not only to celebrate,

the race,

but to enjoy with,

a sombrero on your head,

and more,

than a mint julep,

in your hand

this year,

it falls on,

the day before,

mother's day,

to celebrate,

we celebrate with our mothers,

who are there to watch,

and enjoy,

and even pick,

the winning horse

a celebration for all,

a celebration for some,

a day,

where the horses,

are the main event,

and one,

will come out,

a winner

Hootie & the Blowflish- where are they now??

 

     If you were a child in the 90's, like I was, you would know a band called "Hootie and the Blowfish". Who were they, and what happened to them? Well.... starting around the early to mid 90's they gave us such songs like: "Only wanna be with you" as well as "Let her cry" and "Time"

    In 1994, they came out with an album with all those songs I mentioned before. So... where did they go? Around late 90's to early 2000's, they were still there, but haven't made any huge hits like they did back then. Cracked Rear View is considered the only album that is known by them.

  By the end of 2008, it seemed Hottie and the Blowfish were no longer around. The lead singer of the band, Darius Rucker, went out to make country music while the rest just vanished. So... why?

    It seemed they everyone in the band wanted to do their own solo work. One of them is the lead singer of the group, Darius Rucker

      Darius Rucker, Born May 13th, and was becoming a star when he was a teenager. Around the early 90's, he along with a few others from the group. He went right into country music when he was a solo artist. For me, I don't know if I find Hootie and the Blowflsih to be considered a country group, but then again, they were a mix of both rock and country

  I have heard some of both Hootie and Darius. But the interesting thing of the band is how they got their name. I found out they got it from two college friends. The band was even featured in a magazine of poorly named bands. Having a name like Hootie and the Blowfish, I don't blame them.

           We all asked that question where they went and why they have a band name like that. Some questions were answered while others we still want. Was it their decision to go on hiatus? Who knows, but now they are back and have a new album.

   Sadly, it did not have many popular hits as the one in 1994. But they are back for now. Darius is the singer, and the rest are the rest. Well, their names are Mark Brya, Jim Sonefeld and Dean Felber. I don't know which is which. I only know Darius or Hootie

     Back in the 90's Hootie and the Blowfish also have a charity they started. It got bigger when 9/11 happened. The Charity is still there today, and it's called Hootie and the Blowfish foundation. From 2005 to 2009, when Hurricane Katrina hit, they benefited over $100,000 for animals providing them a spay/neuter program

   Why am I talking about a band that some people might have heard of? That used to play grunge and country music as well a foundation? A band that has a strange name? Well this is a band I listened to when I was young. I guess I just like talking about a band that came back from hiatus and played songs that we will all remember. Hootie and the Blowfish one strange name for a great band. 

The best and worst songs in movies

 

If you remember some of the songs in movies, some memorable and some...not so memorable. Well, what songs were the worst and what were the best? First, we'll talk about the worst.

Just downright racist: What makes the red man red was a song from the Disney animated movie "Peter Pan" After they save Tiger Lily, they are treated to a celebration. Having a song playing by Indians saying what makes the red man red? Now a days...it makes us embarrassed. I prefer the Return to Neverland songs they had. This movie was ok, but not that memorable for me

Just downright embarrassing: Ninja Rap from the movie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: II Secret of the Ooze. The movie was ok, better than those Michael Bay movies. What didn't win me over was the ending of the movie. First off...near the end with the turtles fight against Shredder, they end up at a Vanilla Ice concert. They start fighting, win...and at the end they, and Vanilla Ice start singing a Ninja Rap. This was at the hype of Vanilla Ice's career.

Just not a great song: Hakuna Matata is a song that is meant to be a cheerful song, but in my opinion...it annoys me so. Why? Well, I don't mind the song it's just an earworm to hear over and over again. There are better songs in the movie like "Be Prepared" and "Can you feel the night" and especially "Circle of Life" Movie is amazing that's for sure. The remake...it was ok

Just Downright Forgettable: A guy like you ... remember the Disney movie A Hunchback of Notre Dame. A dark movie that was still entreating in some parts?? The adults might remember some of the scenes, but the kids will remember the hilarious gargoyles. They had a song called a guy like you. I don't remember it that well...do you?

Just downright ripped off: Come with me is a song that is remembered for a few reasons. One of those reasons is because P. Diddy performed it. He's ok and all, but he ripped the song from a Led Zepplin song. I like the song, but I think Led Zepplin's version was better. I'm sorry but the other offense is it was for a movie that did poorly in the box office. Godzilla 1998. Like a song, that movie was a rip off too

Just downright horrible:  Wild, Wild West We know about the slap seen around the world, but before all that, Will Smith was in a horrible movie. Wild, Wild West was based on a TV show that they made movie for. Not only did the movie did horrible...the songs weren't great either. I mean "wild, wild west" was also a horrid song. Skip both

    Now that you know what songs to avoid when seeing a movie, here are some of the songs that are 100 percent worth hearing, even if you don't see the movie 

LOSE YOURSELF: If you've seen the movie 8 mile, you would know the story. Back around that time, Eminem was becoming a new rapper. After this movie, he was known than just Sim Shady. Eminem is still considered a pretty good singer. But when I was in high school, going onto college, this movie came out. Now...it's almost twenty years old. Damn how time flies

STREETS OF PHILADELPHA: You know what's sad about this song, how real it is to life. I live around Philadelphia and in 1993, there were streets that were not livable. Now...29 years later, this Bruce Springsteen song is still amazing. The movie brought us to tears. Tom Hanks plays a man with Aids and Denzel Washington is his lawyer helping him out on a case of Aids discrimination. The song is still great...and it won an Oscar for best song.

HERO: For the first Spiderman movie, the lead of Nickelback decided to create a song called Hero. The song can be annoying to some yes, but to me...it's listenable. I would find it heartwarming with some interesting lyrics. It's a love and hate kind of song. There are people that can't deal with it while others think it's an amazing song.

CIRCLE OF LIFE: There are many versions of this song, but the original sung by Carmen Twille is the one to listen to. I love it, one of the best Disney songs of all time. From the movie the Lion King, this song is where the movie starts. With Rafiki holding a young Simba. At the end, they reprise the song and Simba's daughter is held up to the sky.

OVER THE RAINBOW: There are so many singers that made this song special. But the one that started it...Judy Garland. They almost cut the song out of the movie all together. If that happened, we would never have gotten an amazing gem of a song for a movie about a young farm girl in a fantasy world. There have been famous singers creating their own version, but if you want the first...see Wizard of Oz

GANGSTA PARADISE: A song for the movie Dangerous Minds, Coolio created a music video based on his life. I think this song is considered amazing. I enjoyed it...but I never seen the movie. The song remarks on Coolio's life and hard it is to be alive in a world full of death. I wish I saw the movie with Michelle Phiffer in it. The song is pretty good, and was nominated, only to lose to another.

ONE LAST SONG I WANT TO TALK ABOUT:

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST:  From the Disney movie of the same name this song, if sung by Angela Lansbury or any other talented singer, is amazing. Even won an Oscar for best song. To me...this is my favorite Disney Movie. (The Original not the crappy remake) Two other songs also were nominated that year. I don't know why, but like I will always love you by Whitney Houston, this song deserves to be the best.

My Heart Will go on, The Rocky Theme, the theme from Shaft, I will always love you... These songs are movie gold. Many winning best original songs, while other songs can make our ears bleed...these songs are worth the listening to.

Fake Italian foods, what is real Italian food?

 

   Ever been to an Olive Garden thinking they served real Italian Cuisine? Well, Olive Garden has pulled the wool over your eyes if you think they are serving real Italian food. So, which foods are the phonies that are passing themselves off as Italian food? 

    Don't get me wrong, some of these fakes taste very good...but they are far off of being Italian food.

 Marinara Sauce-

 

   If you live in Jersey, or the Italian side of Boston, you will see the 'red sauce' known as Marinara draped over pasta dishes. In Italy, nobody does that. They usually would add oil to their pastas. Sometimes they would incorporate tomatoes in their pasta dish. But Marinara sauce is not an Italian dish. I guess some of the Italian immigrants taught their families how to make a special meal topping for their pasta. Someone added sauce, and history was made.

Penne Alla Vodka- 

    This dish is more Italian-American than a true Italian dish. Not know who or where it was created, some people think that Penne Alla Vodka is a dish with penne and vodka sauce. People didn't start putting Vodka in a pasta dish until the 1970's. This dish contains a cream sauce as well as Marinara sauce. Sometimes this dish would have ham chunks and peas, but that's only an option. This dish is more Italian-American than straight up Italian.

Garlic Bread

    This smelly bread that contains garlic is not even Italian. It is more of an American creation by garlic and bread lovers. Getting the idea from Bruschetta. They would be paired as a side dish for Lasagna, Spaghetti and other Italian foods. Other times, it would be topped with cheese. Some garlic breads have been frozen and sold in markets. Other times, chefs would try fancy ways to make their Garlic bread seem like real Italian food.

Baked Ziti-

    From the Italian dish Pasta al Forno, Baked Ziti is more of a baked dish like a casserole. Lasagna, being another, with grated cheese and ziti inside, this dish is more American than Italian. This dish is more American in the way Lasagna can be another dish. Ziti can be used, other times, other tube-shaped pastas like rigatoni or penne.

Pepperoni pizza-

    If you get a Pepperoni pizza here, you get a sausage style pizza they call pepperoni. If you ask for one in Italy, you'll end up getting one with peppers. The reason why...you wouldn't understand what Italy has. If you want a pepperoni pizza in Italy, get one with sausage, because it'll be similar to the one you get in the states. Pepperoni was not considered an Italian dish, but if you want a true pizza from Italy, get the Margaretta or Neapolitan style pizza. Stuffed crust and deep dish are more an American creation.

Mozzarella Sticks-

    Yes, even these sticks of fried Mozzarella are an American creation. In Italy, they don't really fry cheese. Dipping these delicious fried sticks was more an American thing. And like garlic bread, Mozzarella sticks are also so in groceries, or in restaurants in America like TGI Fridays. Some people even made homemade versions as well.

Fettucine Alfredo-

    

    There is a history behind this dish. That a cook made it to take care of his wife who was dealing with pregnancy issues. A restaurant was opened in the 1940's where they created the dish. But I think it took place in America. Whatever the origin of this sauce was from, it was not from Italy. This cheese sauce, mostly seen in Fettucine dishes, was not created in Italy, but is enjoyed in many places in America for people who have a love of cheese sauce

Neapolitan Ice cream-

    Unlike the style of pizza, Neapolitan ice cream is not Italian. Having three flavors in one, this ice cream has strawberry, vanilla and chocolate all in stripes. But this ice cream dish is not even Italian. It is more an American dish with three distinct colors of the most eaten ice cream. Not known who came up with the dish or the name, it might have been thought up in an Italian American ice cream store. 

Spaghetti and meatballs-

    A dish that sounds as if it was created by Italians...but an all-American dish created in the USA. How did it get its start? Well, first off, Spaghetti is always considered an Italian dish, but back in Italy, they never add meatballs to their pasta. Knowing that this dish is more American than Italian, it's still considered one of the most memorable dishes that is more American than Italian.

  Sometimes some food origins can surprise you. Not every dish was thought up in different countries. Some French, Mexican....even Asian cuisines might have been thought here in America, just like the Italian foods from above. All you have to do is find out...is this food from here or created somewhere else on the map.

How strong is love-Poem

 

The strength it holds,

its power,

once only known as puppy love

two people

a man,

a woman,

or of same sex,

it doesn't matter

the beating of the heart,

as two forces collide,

love is the strongest feeling of all,

it comes,

and goes,

you can fall in love one day,

and then...

not

a kiss,

a hug,

skin touching skin,

the feeling of romance,

how do you know,

when it is true love?

do you feel it with a first kiss?

does it happen,

when the eyes meet?

Is it natural,

to fall in love,

to not wanting to be alone

no one knows,

how love works,

if you find someone,

you like,

do you love them too?

does it matter,

 how long the relationship has been?

cupid arrows,

piercing in hearts,

as it races,

when two meet,

is it first love?

is it the last?

the bonds of two people,

showing how much,

 they care,

about one another,

and their families,

love can be mysterious,

if unknown,

oblivious,

if not seen,

you care,

but how much,

do you really care?

Love,

the most powerful emotion ever,

the strength it has,

can make one person,

feel happy,

emotional,

and special