Warning: The following language is not intended for overly mature readers
“sup dude”
“nm, u?”
“nm, what u up 2 tonite?”
“drnkn, u in?”
“omw”
The preceding was an actual texting conversation between a friend and I. Besides lighting up Microsoft word with squiggly red and green lines, these symbols actually stand for something very important–a development in the usage of the English language. Because of the rapid-fire nature in which texts are sent, it becomes imperative for a text message to use as few letters as possible to maximize output. Standard spelling, being inefficient, is virtually extinct to the world of texting.

Old-fashioned attitudes will probably dismiss the value of Textese (texting language) because of its radical differences with proper English language usage. They may call it ridiculous and chastise it for reducing literacy and crippling the spelling abilities of youths.

Silly elitists.  continue reading

Who are the best modern guitarists? That’s a question easier asked than answered, but I’ll try it anyway. Here is my criterion: Who navigates the fret board like a seasoned mariner, directing their vessel through the squall and into the beautiful horizon? Who achieves tonal magnificence and memorable performances with a virtuosic onstage presence? Who can actually resist hyperbole? (Not this blogger.) Truth is, there are many great modern guitarists that aren’t on the list. These are simply 5  great guitar players that I would consider the best of the best.

5) Brent Hinds – Mastodon

What best modern guitar players list would be complete without Brent Hinds? When Mastodon’s “Crack the Skye” hit in 2009, it re-conceptualized what a Metal guitarist can sound like. Instead of using Metal’s standard rough and crunchy sound, Hind’s pentatonic legato style transcended the soundscape of Mastodon’s previous 3 albums and entered a stage where his technically astounding guitar work can be fully demonstrated.

A great gift idea for your musical friends!

Listen to: “The Last Baron,” Crack the Skye, 2009

4) Josh Homme – Queens of the Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures, Kyuss

The greatest part about Homme’s playing is the relative simplicity that his riffs have. They are simple, to the point, and rock hard. Most importantly, they always serve the song’s needs. Aside from his memorable riffs are his solos, which have recently shifted towards an accessible bluesy sound.

Listen to: “Into the Hollow,” Era Vulgaris, 2007

3) Billy Corgan – Smashing Pumpkins

If you were to think of guitar sound as an ocean wave crashing down on you auditory canal, funneling through it relentlessly with all sorts of varying sounds and power—then you are probably thinking of Billy Corgan’s guitar playing. There’s dimension to Corgan’s guitaring that lends itself to psychedelic sounds, there’s ample power to sound heavy, and of course, the musical depth that makes it timeless.

Listen to: “Tarantula,” Zeitgeist, 2007

2) Matthew Bellamy – Muse

Matthew Bellamy performing with Muse

Space-rock isn’t a new concept. Neither are overdriven, effects-laden guitars. What makes Bellamy so special is his ability to fuse these two concepts into a digestible, distinct,  signature sound. A testament of a good player is if the listener can tell who is playing despite not knowing who they are listening to. It’s never hard to recognize Bellamy, as his sound just as well may have literally dropped out of space.

Listen to: “Knights of Cydonia,” Black Holes and Revelations, 2006

1) John Frusciante – Red Hot Chili Peppers

“When the intellectual part of guitar playing overrides the spiritual you don’t get to extreme heights.” –John Frusciante (Rolling Stone, February 2007) Emotional transcendence is part of being a great guitar player. When newer players pick up the guitar and learn to scale shred to achieve the illusion of great proficiency they are missing the point altogether. Emotion is what guitar playing is all about, not ego. John Frusciante is the most spiritual and emotional player alive and as such, is #1 on my list.

Listen to: “Wet Sand,” with special attention to his powerful, simple solo. Stadium Arcadium, 2006

Orlando Sentinel cartoonist Dana Summers mocks Auburn's recent pay to play scandal

I remember very clearly the first time I wondered about college athletes being paid. I was eleven years old and at my first college football game ever with my father. We were in the midst of tens of thousands of fans, hundreds of press members, and dozens of television cameras. I was enthralled by the spectacle and asked my father how much the players were getting paid. “Nothing,” he said, much to my astonishment. How could that be? Certainly the players must be receiving something to play.

Fast forward about a decade. College football superstar Reggie Bush of the University of Southern California (USC) has just won the Heisman trophy (college football’s most prestigious award). The award seemed an appropriate punctuation to his spectacular and honest career. That is, until 2010 when NFL agent Lloyd Lake sued Bush for failure to repay $290,000 worth of incentives that he gifted Bush while attending USC. Once the NCAA learned of the allegations, they swiftly penalized USC, forcing the school to vacate their last 2 wins of 2004 (including the national championship) and all of their wins in 2005. The NCAA cited Bush’s superstar status and USC’s failure to monitor him closely as justification enough for those stiff penalties. The case between Lake and Bush has since been settled and Bush returned his Heisman trophy in September 2010. Sadly, his scandal is not a lonely one.

The most recent NCAA football champions, the Auburn Tigers, had a scandal surface last March where players stated they received money directly from coaches, and earned cash handshakes from boosters for their performance in games. Former Auburn player Stanley McGlover says he once received $4,000 after his 4 sack performance against arch-rival Alabama.

 Last week former University of Miami booster, Nevin Shapiro confessed to supplying Miami players with cash, girls, entertainment, and gifts over a period of 8 years—a major NCAA violation. Because of Shapiro’s testament the University has since suffered a harsh blow to its reputation and is currently awaiting its penalty from the NCAA.

There is no question that NCAA athletes are getting paid (sorry dad!), the question is should they? Former NFL coach and current NCAA coach Steve Spurrier thinks so. He believes that players should receive $300/game–a reasonable sum. Over the course of 4 years it wouldn’t even come close to the lavish $290,000 that Bush received during his college career; however, the current rules have a precedent—no paying whatsoever—and if that precedent were to be broken, well, who knows how long it would be before players saw over $1,000/game, an amount potentially being paid to kids already receiving a free college education.

Lets put this in perspective. Imagine a talented athlete from California and an equally talented poet from the Bronx. Is it fair that one of these equally talented people is rewarded significantly more for their specific talent, rewarded even, to the point of absurdity? ($4,000 a game.) Of course not. I understand, too, that the NCAA makes billions of dollars from their student athletes. Think that’s a rip-off? You may be right. Think that’s simply part of the agreement? You may also be right. I personally side with the latter, and to the NCAA I say: keep it amateur.