Current Events | Basically Becky

Category Archives: Current Events

Is Steven Slater a Hero?

Written on August 14, 2010 by Becky in Current Events

I’m sure you’ve all heard about Steven Slater, the Jet Blue flight attendant who went completely nuts (no pun intended) after a confrontation with a rude passenger at JFK? He told the woman off via overhead speaker, grabbed 2 beers and slid down the emergency shoot? Below is the footage of his crazy escape (although it’s hard to see with that big pole in the way.)

Now, when I first heard this story, I thought, good for him. Taking a stand. Making a scene. But then, I thought, he could have just went out the regular exit and not been in trouble with the law right now. What are your thoughts on this?

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Take the NO PHONE ZONE Pledge!

Written on April 30, 2010 by Becky in Current Events, Life, Television

Today is National No-Phone Day. The statistics show that nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted driver and more than a half-million were injured. I will admit it. I used to text and drive. I don’t do it anymore. Especially after watching Oprah’s show today:

So, take the pledge. I did.

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DMB Donates Unreleased Music to Benefit Haiti Relief

Written on January 21, 2010 by Becky in Current Events, DMB, Dave Matthews, Music

In the wake of the devastation in Haiti, Dave Matthews Band has partnered with Music For Relief to help. From the DMB official website:

American Rejects, Enrique Iglesias, Hoobastank, Kenna, Lupe Fiasco, Peter Gabriel and Slash for DOWNLOAD TO DONATE FOR HAITI, a recovery effort to aid the nation of Haiti in the aftermath of the devastating January 12th earthquake. Millions of Haitians are in need of food, water, medical attention, clothing and shelter just to make it through the days ahead.

Working with Music For Relief, a non-profit founded by Linkin Park following the 2004 Asian tsunamis, each of the artists have graciously donated never-before-released music to help raise funds and promote awareness of the recovery efforts. Dave Matthews Band’s Typical Situation from 07.05.1997 Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre in Irvine, CA has been selected for the charitable release. DOWNLOAD TO DONATE FOR HAITI provides fans with the opportunity to download a collection of exclusive songs by their favorite artists and then donate funds on a purely voluntary basis. Each download is a donation. Fans can download the 9 unreleased songs at musicforrelief.org and via the websites of each participating artist. DMB encourages you to donate what you can. Every donation will help and 100% of funds received will go directly to the Haiti efforts.

Funds raised through the program will support the United Nation’s rapid disaster response efforts through the UN Foundation, the long-term rebuilding of sustainable homes with Habitat for Humanity, and Dave Matthews Band’s Bama Works, Haitian relief efforts. DMB is developing a full-scale plan for long-term assistance to Haiti - please stay tuned for more information. DOWNLOAD. LISTEN. DONATE. SPREAD THE WORD. BRING HOPE.

To preview the track listing and donate, visit Music For Relief. Every little bit helps.

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Apple Discriminating Against Smokers? Really?

Written on November 29, 2009 by Becky in Current Events, Products

Three different Mac users have claimed that Apple voided their AppleCare Protection Plans due to second-hand smoke. According to Ruth, one of the Apple customers who wrote into the Consumerist:

I bought an iMac for my son (for school) along with the extended Applecare warranty. A month ago, it quit working. My son took it to the authorized Mac service center. The “tech” informed him it would be ready in 48-72 hours. Five days go by and he’s heard nothing, so I called. They informed me that his computer can’t be worked on because it’s contaminated.

When I asked for an explanation, she said he’s a smoker and it’s contaminated with cigarette smoke which they consider a bio-hazard! I checked my Applecare warranty and it says nothing about not honoring warranties if the owner is a smoker. The Applecare representative said they defer to the technician and my son’s computer cannot be fixed at any Apple Service Center due to being listed a bio-hazard.

This computer cost approx. $3,000, with the extended warranty. I’m all for destroying cigarettes and putting big tobacco out of business (yes, I’m a reformed smoker), but to label a computer a biohazard because one is a smoker is going a bit too far in regulating who can have the warranty they purchased honored. Shouldn’t there be some disclaimer stating that they won’t honor warranties from smokers?

Ruth appealed her case to Steve Jobs’s office, which also declined to repair the iMac. In another letter, she wrote:

Dena [from Jobs' office] did advise me that nicotine is on OSHA’s list of hazardous substances and Apple would not require an employee to repair anything deemed hazardous to their health. However, OSHA also lists calcium carbonate (found in calcium tablets), isopropyl alcohol (used to clean wounds), chlorine (used in swimming pools), hydrogen peroxide (also used to clean wounds), sucrose (a sugar), talc (as in powder), etc… as hazardous substances.

I get it. I understand where Apple is coming from. Smoking is bad for you. I’m sure smoking around your computer can’t be good for it either. But for Apple to not honor the AppleCare Protection Plan that people paid good money for is just WRONG. I have a MacBook that I got in 2007. I purchased the Protection Plan for an additional $250. Thank goodness I did, since my hard drive broke in August and had to be replaced. This makes me wonder if my computer has damage like that. Harry smoked around my computer from when I got it in 2007 until he passed away in January 2009. That’s 2 years of smoke damage. Had they pulled this crap with me, I don’t know what I would have done.

Apple has remained mum on the subject, not releasing a statement as of yet. As a company known for its customer service, I would hope that they will do the right thing and honor any repair with a plan purchased up until this “new exception” came up and make it effective starting now. At least give people a chance to kick the habit!

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Ode to John Hughes

Written on August 6, 2009 by Becky in Current Events, Movies, RIP

News was just released that John Hughes, writer, director and producer of such films as “The Breakfast Club”, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “Sixteen Candles” died today of a heart attack. His publicisist confirmed that he was in Manhattan visiting family and died during a morning walk.

Being a child of the 80′s, I pretty much grew up on films that were either written, produced or directed by John Hughes. In fact, after looking at his Wikipedia page, I can say that there were films that I loved that I didn’t even know he was involved in, like “The Great Outdoors”, “Mr. Mom” and “She’s Having a Baby”. As an ode to the genius of Mr. Hughes, see some thumbnails of my favorites below:

And here is “The Breakfast Club” trailer. One of my favorite all-time movies. A Classic.

RIP John. Thank you for giving us so many great films. Your legacy will always remain.

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'Tis a sad day in Hollywood. RIP Farrah and MJ.

Written on June 25, 2009 by Becky in Current Events, Life, RIP, Twitter, Wordpress

It’s been almost 2 weeks since my last blog post and I’ve been itching to get on here, but I have been having major WordPress issues. If you are reading this, hopefully, that means they problems have gone away. For any WordPress gurus out there, these are the issues I am still having:

Pics not showing up in posts (see Today show post from 6/5/09). The pics are in the media area of my dashboard, but will not load on the site.
500 internal server error. This happens almost every day at some point to someone. I’ve contacted GoDaddy (site host) and they said it’s a WordPress issue.

I would appreciate any assistance anyone could give me….this is getting very frustrating.

Today was a day that I will most likely never forget. It began when I awoke to see Farrah Fawcett on Twitter’s trending topics. I knew she was sick, but when you are in the trending topics it’s never a good sign. She had passed away only a half hour earlier. What is really sad is that she never got to marry her long-time partner Ryan O’Neil. He had proposed again last week and she said yes, but it was too late.

RIP Farrah. You inspired so many people when you were younger as an icon and also lately with the hope of your strength in dealing with cancer.

Later today, in the middle of trying to figure out what was wrong with my blog, I looked on TMZ and saw that Michael Jackson had gone into cardiac arrest. In the age of Twitter, this news spread like wildfire and it was all anyone could talk about. TMZ was the first to report the news of his passing. Many didn’t believe it, as it came from a “tabloid” but, as many people may not realize, TMZ is owned by AOL and has a little more credibility than they think. I immediately posted it to my Twitter and got backlash that I was jumping to conclusions by listening to TMZ, and should wait for a more “credible source”.

Either way, the world lost another icon later in the afternoon. My childhood is filled with so many memories of MJ and his music and dancing. He has been an inspiration to almost any musician out there today. I am sorry that I never had the chance to see him moonwalk live.

Despite all the controversies that he was surrounded by later in his life, he will always be the “King of Pop”. RIP Michael.

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Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King – Songs & Lyrics #dmb

Written on June 3, 2009 by Becky in Current Events, Dave Matthews, Products, Reviews

I was going to do this detailed review, but it’s just so incredibly good that words won’t do it justice. So good, that you just need to listen to it. So here.

TRACK 1: GRUX

TRACK 2: SHAKE ME LIKE A MONKEY

The thing I like about you
The way you do what you do
The thing i like about you
God and the devil alone could not have made you up

Two must have worked as one together
So good just want to eat you up
Let me like the real thing
Lick your sticky fingers boy and sing for your dinner sing

Come on pretty babe make me lose my mind
Everybody get together gonna make love shine

Do you know what it is to feel the light of love inside you?
And all the darkness falls away
If you feel the way I feel then believe we have the answer
I’ve been searching for tonight
Love me baby love me baby shake me like a monkey
Forever I’m yours

I can’t stop thinking about you
yeah yeah yeah
why would i want to
I like coffee with toast and jelly
But I’d rather be licking from your back to your belly
I think I’m going to

Do you know what it is to feel the light of love inside you?
And all the darkness falls away
If you feel the way I feel then believe we have the answer
I’ve been searching for tonight
Love me baby love me baby shake me like a monkey
forever I’m yours

Cigarettes and coffee broken heart and being lonely little girls
And ponies are the things that go together
Yes and no you have to choose Romeo and Juliet to hang their noose
You and me would go together

Kiss Kiss make a wish
Hope that it comes true
But I ain’t waiting for the world to change
Gonna change the world for you

Come on pretty baby make you lose your mind
Everybody get together gonna make love shine

Do you know what it is to feel the light of love inside you?
And all the darkness falls away
If you feel the way I feel then believe we have the answer
I’ve been searching for tonight
Love me baby love me baby shake me like a monkey
Forever I’m yours

Come on everybody make me lose my mind
Everybody get together gonna make love shine

TRACK 3: FUNNY THE WAY IT IS

Lying in the park on a beautiful day
The sunshine in the grass
And my children play
Sirens passing fire engine red
Someone’s house is burning down
On a day like this

The evening comes and we’re hanging out
On a front step and a car goes by
With the windows rolled down
And that war song is playing
Why can’t we be friends
Someone is screaming and crying
In the apartment upstairs

Funny the way it is
Make you think about it
Somebodies going hungry
And someone else is eating out
Funny the way it is
Not right or wrong
Somebodies heart is broken
And it becomes your favorite song

The way your mouth feels in your lover’s kiss
Like a pretty bird on the breeze
Or water to a fish
The bomb blast brings the building crashing to the floor
Hear the laughter
While the children play war

Funny the way it is
Make you think about it
One kid walks ten miles to school
Anothers dropping out
Funny the way it is
Not right or wrong
A soldiers last breath
His babies being born

Standing on a bridge
Watch the water passing underneath
It must have been much harder
When there was no bridge just water
Now the world is small
Compared to how it use to be
With mountains and oceans
And winters and rivers and stars

Funny the way it is
Make you think about it
One kid walks ten miles to school
Anothers dropping out
Funny the way it is
Not right or wrong
A soldiers last breath
His babies being born

Funny the way it is
Not right or wrong
Somebodies broken heart
And it becomes your favorite song
Funny the way it is
Make you think about it
One kid walks ten miles to school
Anothers dropping out

Standing on a bridge
Watch the water passing underneath
It must have been much harder
When there was no bridge just water
Now the world is small
Compared to how it use to be
With mountains and oceans
And winters and rivers and stars

TRACK 4: LYING IN THE HANDS OF GOD

Baby I’ll be your soldier.
Gladly, I’ll do your bidding.
Just a taste of what you’re holding,
for just a taste you could only… me.

Save your sermons for someone that’s afraid to love.
I’ll be right here lying in the hands of God.

Here it comes diving in to me.
Now the floor is the ceiling.
If you never flew why would you
Cut the wings off a butterfly… Fly.

Save your sermons for someone that’s afraid to love.
If you knew what I feel then you couldn’t be so sure.
I’ll be right here lying in the hands of God.
If you feel angels in your hand,
Tear drops of joy runs down your face, you will rise.

Fillin’ me up, now drain me…
Skin begins to grow back slowly,
Faster ‘til I’m choking,
Really should call my mother, mother.

Save your sermons for someone that’s afraid to love.
If you knew what I feel then you couldn’t be so sure.
I’ll be right here lying in the hands of God.

I am in love with nothing less…
Tear drops of joy runs off my face,
I will rise for someone that’s afraid to love.
If you knew what I feel, then you couldn’t be so sure.
I’ll be right here lying in the hands of God.

Now the floor is the ceiling.
If you never flew, why would you…
If you never flew, why would you? You…
Why would you?

TRACK 5: WHY I AM

I grew from monkey into man
Then I crushed 15 million with a wave of my hand
I grew drunk on water turned into wine
‘Till I was slave and master at the same damn time

But it’s why I am
It’s why I am
Why I am still here dancing with the GrooGrux King

Out of my head and into the room forever

A king of men it makes no sense
All bow to you while I worhip the wench

But it’s why I am
The only one to make you smile
Why I am
A snake in the wood pile
Why I am

Oh still here dancing with the GrooGrux King

Out of my head and into the room
So when my ghost takes me from you
You can remember the fool that I am
Don’t cry baby
Don’t cry

It’s the lose and the win of the world
Wrong and the right
Us and them of the world
It’s the you and the me of the world
Only one way out of the world

It’s the lose and the win of the world
Wrong and the right
Us and them of the world
It’s the you and the me of the world
Only one way out of the world

It’s why I am
Unlikely to agree
Why I am
Runnin’ up my monkey tree
Why I am still here dancing with the GrooGrux King
We’ll be drinking Big Whiskey while we dance and sing
When my story ends it’s gonna end with him
Heaven or hell I’m going there with the GrooGrux King

Why I am
Color of your pretty eye
Why I am
A snake in the wood pile
Why I am still here dancing with the GrooGrux King

Out of my head and into the room
So when my ghost takes me from you
You can remember the fool that I am
Don’t cry baby
Don’t cry

TRACK 6: DIVE IN

I saw a man on the side of the road
with a sign that read ‘will work for food’
Tried to look busy, ’til the light turned green

I saw a bear on TV and his friends were all drowning
cause their homes were turning to water

A strange, kinda sad, big old bear
surely would happily eat me
he’d tear me to pieces that bear

Wake up sleepy head
I think the suns a little brighter today
Smile and watch the icicles melt away and see the water rising…
Summers here to stay, and all those summer games will last forever
Go down to the shore, kick off your shoes, dive in the empty ocean.

Tell me everything will be OK if I just stay on my knees and keep praying
believing in something
Tell me everything is all taken care of by those qualified to take care of it all.

Wake up sleepy head
I think the suns a little brighter today
Smile and watch the icicles melt away and see the waters rising
Summers here to stay, and that sweet summer breeze will blow forever
Go down to the shore, kick off your shoes, dive in the empty ocean

One day, do you think we’ll wake up in a world on it’s way to getting better?
and if so can you tell me
how?

I have been thinking that lately the blood is increasing
the tourniquets not keeping hold in spite of our twisting
though we would like to believe we are
we are not in control
though we would love to believe

Wake up sleepy head
I think the suns a little brighter today
Smile and watch the icicles melt away and see the water rising…
Summers here to stay, and those sweet summer girls will dance forever
Go down to the shore, kick off your shoes, dive in the empty ocean.

TRACK 7: SPACEMAN

Probably get it wrong much as I get it right, girl
But I got it right woman when I caught your eye
Remember most about that night
Is I love the way you move baby
Yes I love the way you move baby

I like most liquor, but I don’t like gin
Dont always like the skin I’m in
But when we get it wrong we gotta start again
But I love the way you move me
I love the way you move me

(Chorus)
Oh ah, ah ah Yeah
All the freaks are on parade
I wanna fill my belly, so I gotta get paid
Doesn’t everyone deserve to have the good life
Dont always work out
Cry cry baby, if you must
Just remember

Just remember..I love the way you love me
I love the way you move me

I’m not all there, I’m a faithful sinner
I might get lost, but Ill be home for dinner
If God don’t like me, he can hand me to hell
But I love the way you love me girl
I love the way you move me

I pray to heaven to keep my place
Till I look to the mirror and saw the Devils face
And Id be a dog, for a tail to chase
But I love the way you kiss me baby
I love the way you talk to me
I love the way you talk to me

(Chorus)
Oh ah, ah ah Yeah
All the freaks are on parade
I wanna fill my belly, so I gotta get paid
Doesn’t everyone deserve to have the good life
Dont always work out
Cry cry baby, if you must
Just remember

The way you move me

(Jam)

Not coming home till the good days gone
Working as hard, as the day is long
Working men watch me, when I get home
Cause I love the way you talk baby
I love the way you move

(Chorus)
Oh ah, ah ah Yeah
All the freaks are on parade
I wanna fill my belly, so I gotta get paid
Doesn’t everyone deserve to have the good life
Dont always work out
Cry cry baby, if you must
Just remember

Well remember
All the freaks are on parade
I wanna fill my belly, so I gotta get paid
Doesn’t everyone deserve to have the good life
Dont always work out
Cry cry baby, if you must
Just remember

I love the way you love me girl.
I love the way you move.

TRACK 8: SQUIRM

Please find your place
The room grows scarce
Once we’re all inside
The service can begin
For a moment, if you please
Forget what you believe
And naked, you will see
That we are all the same

But how, your kiss
Your words, your lips
Your flesh, your bones
Exactly what you need

Why should I feel intrusion?
Why be afraid of what we do not understand?
To eliminate exclusion
Cut out the differences to feel like we belong

Open up your head
Open up you primitive
Open up your mouth
Open up your head
Your sweet primitive
Open up your mouth
It’s coming out

Out there, no food or drink
How many days do you think you’d last
On your diamonds and your pearls?
I’m not a king, no, not a hero, not a fool
I’m not perfect, I’m flesh and bone
And I’m exactly what you need

Open up your head
Open up you primitive
Open up your mouth
Open up your head
Your sweet primitive
Open up your mouth
It’s coming out
Open up your head
Scream, you sweet primitive
Tell me what you said

But how, your kiss
Your words, your lips
Not a gun to your head
You’re gonna die before you’re dead

Not sad, when you’re gone
But when your light’s still on
Your dreams wont let you fly
Don’t be dead before you die
Hunger, till fed, give love instead
When it gets inside, watch the dead man squirm

Above all things
If kindness is your king
Then heaven will be yours before you reach your end.

TRACK 9: ALLIGATOR PIE

Floating in the lower nine
Waiting for a boat to throw me a line
See my Stella smile
Sitting on the roof eating alligator pie
First day the water rise
Second day the sun is high
Third day Stella cried cause night times dark as a dead man’s eye’s

Tell me when is help gonna come
Stella said daddy when you gonna put me in a song?

Morning ride on by thank lord everybody’s alright
Don’t mean to throw us a second line
The devil left us here to die

Stella said daddy when you gonna put me in a song?

All the things we know and
Everything we hoped for
All the things we wanted
Everything that was sure
Now there is a scar
Where the old men used to be
The corner store and market
Where Stella used to sing to me

Grace is all I’m asking
When will grace return

Remember how I feel in those days of the summertime
Then Stella smiled
Stella said daddy when you gonna put me in a song?

Tell me lord when help is gonna come
Daddy when you gonna put me in a song?

TRACK 10: SEVEN

Baby when I think about you
All I want to do
Be by your side
Take a little ride
Take a little
Baby you know I’m all about you
And all I want to do
Is take a little ride
Maybe get inside
Maybe get in

Mama told me boy
Someday that girls gonna take your mind
And then you’ll know
I never knew what I do now
I never knew what I do now
I love you, love you, love you, love you
You, you, you, you, you, you, you

Mama told me boy
Someday that girls gonna steal your mind
And then you’ll know
I never knew what I do now
I never knew what I do now
I love you, love you, love you, love you
You, you, you, you, you, you, you

Sour as my fingers
Dirty pick pocket
I can still taste you
I won’t wash my hands
Red is the color
Of the sun with my eyes closed
I can still taste you
And I will again

Woman please I be your possession
You are my obsession
Let me go down
Down, down, down, down, down, down, down

Down little place it digs to go
Down little place it digs to go
Down little place it digs to go
Down little place it digs to go

Mama told me boy
Someday that girls gonna steal your mind
And then you’ll know
I never knew what I do now
I never knew what I do now
I love you, love you, love you, love you
You, you, you, you, you, you, you

Woman please I be your possession
You are my obsession
Let me go down
Down, down, down, down, down, down, down

TRACK 11: TIME BOMB

I’m a ticking time bomb
Waiting to blow my top
No one would ever know
Not until I blew up

No one would believe it
He was such a normal guy
Shake their heads and wonder why

Martians fell from the sky
What would that do to god?
Would we put the weapons down
Or aim it up at the sky

No one would believe it
Except the fucking nut jobs
They laugh and cry we told you so

Baby when I get home
I want to believe in Jesus
Hammer in the final nail
Help me pick up the pieces

When everything starts to fall
So fast that it terrifies you
When will you hit the wall?
Are you gonna learn to fly?

No one would believe it
Except for all the people
Watching as you fly away

Baby when I get home
I want to pick up the pieces
Hammer in the final nail
And lean me up against jesus

Baby when I get home
I want to pick up the pieces
Hammer in the final nail
I want to believe in jesus

TRACK 12: BABY BLUE
Side note: This song makes me cry uncontrollably everytime I hear it. The song, the lyrics, it reminds me of Harry. Saying goodbye, broken heart. It’s got it all covered:

Confess, your kiss still knocks me off my legs.
The first time I saw you was like a punch right through my chest
and I will forever, ‘cause you’ll forever be
my one true broken heart, pieces inside of me and you’ll forever, my baby be.

You will rest your head, your strength once saving.
And when you wake you will fly away,
holding tight to the legs of all your angels.
Goodbye my love, into your blue, blue eyes,
your blue, blue world, you’re my baby blue.

Confess I’m not quite ready to be left.
Still, I know I gave my level best.
You give, you give, to this I can attest
You made me, you made me.
You and me forever, baby.

You will rest your head, your strength once saving.
And when you wake you will fly away,
holding tight to the legs of all your angels.
Goodbye my love, into your blue, blue eyes,
in your blue, blue world, you and me forever.

You will rest your head, your strength once saving.
And when you wake you will fly away,
holding tight to the legs of all your angels.
Goodbye my love, into your blue, blue eyes,
in your blue, blue world, you and me forever.

TRACK 13: YOU AND ME

Want to pack your bags something small
take what you need & we disappear
without a trace, we’ll be gone, gone
moon & the stars follow the car
& when we get to the ocean,
we’re going to take a boat to the end of the world…
all the way to the end of the world
oh and when the kids are old enough
we gonna teach them to fly

you & me together do anything, baby
you & me together yes, yes
you & me together we can do anything, baby
You & me together yes, yes

You & I not tied to the ground,
not falling but rising like, rolling around
eyes closed above the roof tops
eyes closed we’re gonna spin through the stars
our arms wide as the sky, we gonna ride blue
all the way to the end of the world,
to the end of the world

oh and when the kids are old enough
we gone teach them to fly

(chorus)
you & me together could do anything, baby
you & me together yes, yes
you & me together we can do anything baby
You & me toghter yes, yes

we can always look back at what we did
always remembering you & me baby
for right now it’s you and me forever girl
you know we could do better than anything that we did
you know that you and me we could do anything

you & me together c’ do anything, baby
you & me together yeah, yeah

two of us together we c’ do anything, baby
you and me together, yeah yeah
the two of us together yeah, yeah
the two of us together, we can do anything baby

something small, told her at least, the end of the world.

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