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The Ballad of Sandy McNab
The Ballad of Sandy McNab
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Ballad of Sandy McNab by Colin Mackenzie is an interesting children’s book with a very different art style. The back of the book claims that this book will be available as a children’s song (I have not looked for it as of yet). The way the book flows definitely lends itself to being a song.


A little green crab is minding his own business in his home when a shark shows up. The shark tries to trick the crab into going outside by asking him to come out and play. When the crab refuses the shark breaks in and tries to attack him. The little crab is quicker than the shark and pinches it until the shark leaves. With the shark gone the little crab can live peacefully again.


It is hard to pick out just one thing as my favorite when I think the entire book is great. The little crab pinching the shark’s nose made me smile and a whale swallowing the shark was an ironic twist I was not expecting. As for what I did not like, its not exactly a complaint this time but more of something that people should be aware of when getting a book (or anything really) that is not from their country. On two pages there was a word that just felt wrong to me. One was “barmy” which given the context I believe means stupid. The other was “nippers” which I believe to be claws. While this is not a problem with this book people (like myself) should be prepared for language differences.


Parents will enjoy reading this short book to their children and may find that is is difficult to read it without singing it or adding emphasis on the verbal patterns. Also as children get older this is a book that they will still enjoy reading themselves. I give this children’s book a 4 out of 4 rating like so many others. The story is not overly long or detailed and the author clearly took time to structure a story around the rhymes. It keeps a steady rhythm that is frequently hard to accomplish. The story itself is cute with a crab besting a much larger opponent.

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Critical Beatdown by Ultramagnetic MC's
Critical Beatdown by Ultramagnetic MC's
1988 | Rhythm And Blues
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"The first song I heard of theirs was called 'Funky' and the B-side of this was a song called 'Mentally Mad'. I was just listening to a mix show of theirs one night and they played all this new shit. I was like: 'Who the fuck is this?' I needed to know everything about this group from there; I knew this shit was ill. I discovered that they were from the Bronx and the more I listened, the more I realised that their beats were hard as fuck. I started reaching around and I found the 12"" single before the album came out and a few other songs. When the album eventually came out I was just mesmerised, especially with Kool Keith and his high-pitched rhymes talking about all this space-age, futuristic shit. It influenced me massively in that it was just this mad, unorthodox music and when I started making music, mine was very unorthodox as well. They were talking spaceship shit, like it was from another planet and they were 'Hardcore Bronx' fools too. The beats were banging with a big old bass and it just felt like some next level shit. It was hard as fuck, street shit set against these incredible lyrics – you just did not hear people talking like that. Kool Keith would rhyme but he'd also do this shit where nothing at all rhymed (like 'Mentally Mad') and that was very different at the time. They came just before Doctor Octagon and I never got into them or none of that as it felt watered down. Ultramagnetic MC's were just pure hood shit and they stood out because of it. Critical Beatdown was just incredible with the music and the beats they used. There's something too about having the contrast of the deep voice and the high pitched voice that's kind of like B-Real or Chuck D and Flava Flav. When one goes away, the other comes in and they switch again: when they come back, it's always more powerful too. They created a really dynamic sound."

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But I Don’t Want A Haircut by Bobbie Taylor & Jenny Kreoska is a great book to get before a child’s first haircut. According to the section about the authors, this book was written by two hairdressers. These two specialize in children’s haircuts making them (and this book by extenuation) a viable resource for parents of a scared child.

Joey’s hair has gotten so long that he can’t see and his parents decide it is time for a haircut. Unfortunately, Joey is afraid of the hairdresser and doesn't want to go. He voices his concerns about things like the hairdresser having sharp teeth and claws. Joey’s parents reassure him that he has nothing to worry about and that the hairdresser will be careful. Once they get to the salon Joey decides it doesn't look that bad and that the hairdresser looks nice. She even sits on the floor with him to brush his hair and offers to use an electric razor when the scissors scare him. By the time everything is done Joey is happy, relaxed, and looking forward to his next haircut.

I love how this book acknowledges Joey’s fears about the hairdresser without acting like the fears are silly. Joey is reassured that there is nothing to worry about and is able to relax thanks to the approach used. What I did not like was that while the idea behind this book is great unless you have a children’s salon nearby the book might give children false expectations. Parents/caregivers will need to be sure to still discuss what to expect from the salon they will actually be going to.

This book is designed to reassure children going in for a haircut who are scared. Parents can read this to their children but it is simple enough that a child should be able to read this short book on their own. I rate this book 3 out of 4. This is because this is a very cute book and although I would love to give it a perfect score I can not. The rhymes did not flow very well in a few places (although I doubt a child would care) and the warning I gave in my least favorite part. I still want to emphasize that this book is a great resource.

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Ballad Of The Insolent Pup by Thee Headcoatees
Ballad Of The Insolent Pup by Thee Headcoatees
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"Bikini Kill was on tour and we went to this club in Brighton under the pier and the fucking coolest looking girls in the whole universe walked in. They were the band, and they just started singing and they were the Headcoatees. They were just the coolest thing and it was one of the best shows I've ever seen. Then I got the record and really liked their version of the song 'When You Stop Loving Me' that's on that album. I always liked garage rock and I felt like they did it so well – it was the kind of music I could listen to all day and be happy. That record is more about personal stuff and I was getting really burnt out. I don't want to just listen to stuff that's about politics all the time. I want to have my guilty pleasures and I'm not feeling guilty about finding them pleasurable. They made me think I want my music to be enjoyable, not just hard all the time. I want there to be moments where it's like: "This is really fun." I always say Bratmobile was a better band than Bikini Kill, partially because I had that anger to propel me forward and also protect me, whereas they have this sort of, "Hey we're at this summer party and we don't care that you don't even know what a summer party is, fuck you." It was like they were having a summer party on stage and I'm invited. They would literally get up, just Molly [Neuman] and Allison [Wolfe] before Erin [Smith] joined the band, and just sing stuff like, "Girl germs, no return", like childhood rhymes. They're doing it in a room full of predominantly men who are, like, Melvins fans and I was just like, "Man, that takes fucking guts." I heard people in the audience say, "I want to do this and this to the singer, we should fucking murder them" and meanwhile I was having my life changed: "This is the most incredible thing I've ever seen." I use that in my performance partially based on them and I definitely saw their vulnerability as a strength instead of a weakness. I wanted to be able to flash between characters that were very traditionally female and have a macho persona as well, so I try to have both and not just be like the Henry Rollins of riot grrrl."

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My Big Book of Beginner Books about Me
My Big Book of Beginner Books about Me
Dr. Seuss, Al Perkins, Graham Tether | 2011 | Children
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
My Big Book of Beginner Books About Me is a collection of books by Dr. Seuss and two other authors. It's a collection of books that deals with the whole body in one book; Instead of 6 separate books. You get six books in one.

The books remain broken into each book with its title page; I enjoy this. Your children will learn about each part of their body. They will also learn to read as well. Parents will want to read and reread these books or stories to their children. Children will enjoy these books and love them.

The Foot Book:
The first book is "The Foot Book" by Dr. Seuss. This book is all about feet and the foot; The rhyme is excellent and enjoyable. Your children will be rhyming and enjoying each page. One that starts the book is "Left Foot, Left Foot, Right Foot, Right." The story gets funnier and funnier. Your children will love the book and reading and learn about the foot or feet. How many feet do you meet?

The Eye Book:
The second book is "The Eye Book" by Dr. Seuss*. The book is all about the Eyes; It rhymes as well. You will find some fun and funny things when you read this. Your children can learn to read; They will enjoy each page. They will know how important eyes are. Children will learn what is around them as they read this book. They will also learn about what our eyes can see as we enjoy the world around us. What will your eyes see?

The Ear Book:
The third book is "The Ear Book" by Al Perkins. This book is all about what you hear—what you might hear around you. Your children will learn about their ears and the noise around them. There is rhyming in this book. Children will learn to read and learn all about their ears. This book starts with the sound "Tick, Tick, Tick, Tock." What's that sound I hear? What will children learn about their lovely ears and sounds around them?

The Nose Book:
The fourth book is "The Nose Book" by Al Perkins. This book talks about the importance of the nose and that everyone grows a nose. Children will learn all about the nose and what its purposes are. They will also learn to read. This book rhymes as well. Whatever would happen if you could not smell flowers or danger. Everyone grows a nose. Did you know that your nose helps with warning you about danger if it has a smell? Children will learn about smells and what the nose does. Don't forget everyone and every animal grows a nose.

The Tooth Book:
The fifth book is "The Tooth Book" by Dr. Seuss*. Children will learn all about their teeth and what not to do with your teeth—rhyming throughout the book. Children will learn to read. They will laugh at some of the things that go on in the book. This book is enjoyable to read. How many teeth do we get? How many sets?

The Knee Book:
The final book in this collection is "The Knee Book" by Graham Tether. Knees seem to go everywhere. They are so vital that you would not be able to do all the activities you would like to do. Children will learn about some of the essential functions of the knees. But they also will remember who does not have some. Children will learn to read. Rhyming goes on throughout the book as well. What would we do without our knees?

Parents will love these books; This one is a collection of books, as I mentioned before. There are six total books in one. Parents can help their children learn about themselves and their whole bodies. Parents help their child or children learn to read with these books.

Children will be able to read all by themselves with these books. They also may need help from their parents, but they should be able to read and learn. These books teach about six different parts of the body in one big book.

Parents will love this book along with their child or children. Children will want to come back and read and reread these books. There are some funny phrases in each story; The collection is a beautiful book to have and enjoy. You will get six books for the price of one.

Parents, Grandparents could read this book to their children or a book at night. These books will help with bonding along with helping your child or children learn to read. This book collection is a beginner's book. So all the words and phrases are easy to read, and children will read the word.
  
Bad News Belinda
Bad News Belinda
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Bad News Belinda by Stewart Martin Johnson is an amazingly cute little children’s book of only about thirty pages or so. Each page only has an average of about one sentence which makes it a very easy read. For some reason, it brought back memories of Amelia Bedelia from my childhood, but that may just be because of the name.


Aunt Belinda coming to stay for a visit is one of those visits that we all come to dread. In some way, most people can probably relate to having a relative that they are less than enthusiastic to see but hopefully they are not as bad as Belinda. When Belinda is around the children have to hide their candy and clean while Belinda either sits around or makes a mess of things.


Belinda doesn't do fun things with the children like the other aunts do, instead, she makes things miserable for them. The other Aunts help the children plan to get rid of Belinda, but Belinda overhears them. After everyone tells Belinda what they really think of her she leaves on her own and the children have a party with the good aunts.


What I liked best was how the artwork and the story worked very well together. For children’s books, I feel it is very important that the artwork and the story work together. This book is a wonderful example of that. When Belinda is around the coloring is darker, messy, and has a negative feeling, but it is bright, happy, and cheerful when she is gone. If I had to choose something that I didn’t like it would be how everyone told Belinda they did not like her. However, seeing as how Belinda being a problem was kind of the whole point of the book it's not really a negative.


The target readers for this book are any children who like to be read to and young beginning readers. As an adult I also found this book to be fun and enjoyed reading it to my children. That being said I rate this book to be a perfect 4 out of 4. This is because everything about this book is great. The short sentences and overall length do not intimidate young readers. The artwork is spot on with the tones of the book. It has some funny and silly moments such as Belinda eating a goldfish and some very nice rhymes.


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Simon Pegg recommended Annie Hall (1977) in Movies (curated)

 
Annie Hall (1977)
Annie Hall (1977)
1977 | Comedy, Romance

"Let me try and think of a comedy. At university, I wrote about Annie Hall. I know Woody Allen is currently a contentious issue, but that film as a comedy, if we can separate the art from the person for whatever reason, is such a clever, poetic film, but it’s written in the same way that a poem is… When you read a piece of prose, it’s very formal and everything follows one after the other. It’s very conventional. Poetry is different because it draws attention to itself as writing, and it rhymes and does different things, and it uses rhythm. Annie Hall in the same way does that cinematically. It’s kind of like a cinematic poem, and it’s just really, really smartly made. It’s one of the few comedies that ever got nominated or actually won any Oscars. Comedy, I think, is one of the most underrated art forms that there is, particularly in terms of material rewards. There is no Oscar for best comedy. There is no Oscar for best comic performance. I think that’s a shame, and I think if there was, then Jim Carrey would be laden down with scones. It’s not something everybody can do. You might dismiss Ace Ventura: Pet Detective as a ridiculous, goofy, throwaway movie, but it is a virtuoso performance from Jim Carrey, as often is with his work. You see a lot of so-called straight actors, serious actors, trying to do comedy, and they cannot do it. I think comedy is something which is underestimated because it is literally not serious. It’s like people think that seriousness equals serious, if you know what I mean. But Annie Hall, I think, it’s such a well-crafted film. It says a lot. Diane Keaton is just unbelievable in that movie. I got to meet her at CinemaCon. She was there promoting Book Club, and I said to the people I was with at CinemaCon, I said, “I have to meet Diane Keaton. Please, can you introduce me to her? I just need to tell her how much I love her. I won’t bother her too much.” I found a moment and I went over and I just told her I had written a thesis about her at university. She said, “Oh, I’d love to read that.” And I said, “No, you wouldn’t. It’s boring and dense.” But she was delightful. For her performance alone, that film, as controversial as it might be, would definitely be on my list."

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    Rap Studio Battle Me

    Rap Studio Battle Me

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    Battle Me is #1 app for Hip Hop fans and rappers. Let fans hear your tracks and rap battles on...