Random Anecdotes.

I've noticed that some things I think are important are not important to other people.

This list includes: 

1. Finding doppelgangers for every person. It may be another human (doesn't have to be famous) or even a species of animal.  
2. Maintaining a constant list of movies whose soundtracks I must immediately download.
3. Making sure that nobody steals my books. I understand that in this day in age the event of a book thief ransacking my apartment is unlikely.  I also realize that most of my books are ones I keep solely to look more sophisticated than I actually am.  The fact remains: don't touch my library.
4. Keeping a mental checklist of songs that should be combined/mashed up into a fantastic remix.
5. Watching every episode of So You Think  You Can Dance to make sure I know every single song on it.
6. Developing a romantic relationship with Jason Segel a la "Freaks and Geeks" up until the early years of "How I Met Your Mother".  Some may say that this is a doomed endeavor, but I say anything is possible.  Just watch "The Lake House".

Number 1: Some say that my doppelgangers are not accurate. 

 I have mentioned this skill before and have not received enough negative feedback to squash my confidence.  Therefore I am about to unveil my most important doppelganger revelation to date:

This is Ryan, my boyfriend, followed by Jim Carrey.  Despite the low percentage of people who agree with me (around 28%) I would like to say that I feel rather confident in this comparison.

Number 2: Movies whose soundtracks I have recently gained interest in.

Warm Bodies.  Please note these particularly interesting tracks:

The Bad In Each Other- Feist

Patience- Guns N' Roses

Hungry Heart- Bruce Springsteen

Yamaha- Delta Spirit

Oh, Pretty Woman- Roy Orbison

Midnight City- M83 *there will be more on this later, please stay tuned.

Runaway- The National

Chasing Mavericks. Cool tracks include:

Plowed- Sponge. Also I really like "Molly (Sixteen Candles)" in case anybody cares.

Pepper- Butthole Surfers

Start Choppin'- Dinosaur Jr.

Fade Into You- Mazzy Star

I Need An Energy- Greg Holden

Number 3: Books that have been recently ALMOST stolen:

I Found The Shack on my dining room table the other day.  I think it was being used for biblical studies by someone, but the fact remains that it could have been nabbed by just about anybody.  I discovered A Million Little Pieces in the backseat of my roommates car.  She was caught sprinkle-handed (get it?!).

Lolita was not actually stolen, rather misplaced during my last attempt to read it. Yes, I've been trying to finish it since high school.  Also, Mindy Kaling's book was not stolen either.  I just wanted to note that it's really funny and you should read it.

Number 4: Songs that should be mashed up but have not been thus far.

Safe and Sound by Capital Cities and Midnight City by M83.  I can't be the only one to think of this.  Right?

Shark In the Water by VV Brown and If We Ever Meet Again by Timbaland.

Someone needs to make these things happen.  I am incapable of mashing things...so I leave it up to the public.

Number 5: My Favorite Songs on SYTYCD

• Gyrate- Da Muzicianz feat Mr. Collipark
• Ramalama Bang Bang- Roisin Murphy
• In the Morning- Junior Boys
• Gravity- Sara Bareilles
• If It Kills Me (Casanova Version)- Jason Mraz
• Comanche- The Revels
• I Know It's Over- Jeff Buckley

Number 6: My Schoolgirl Crush on Jason Segel

Click on this picture to see the exact moments I fell in love with him.^^^

That's all, folks.

My Favorite Songs

This topic is prefaced by a short story that you will have to read through.

  It starts with my boyfriend graduating college two weeks ago.  A few weeks prior his sister asked him for a list of his favorite songs to play at his graduation party.  He calls me up after an hour or so of compiling songs and asks if he can send it to me for approval.  This got me thinking about what his definition of "favorite song" is, and how my definition is a little bit more involved.

Now, let it be known:

It took me more than an hour to pen a definitive list of my favorite songs because I take this stuff a little too seriously.  I have my favorite bands (which is a topic for a different day), but favorite songs are different.  Songs are much harder to list. First, I'll tell you my requisites for a "favorite" song.

1. Must be unconditional.  No matter what time of day, age, or emotional state, it will always be your favorite.  I think this requires some perspective, aka your favorite song is not one you heard for the first time 2 days ago.
2. Must have emotional connection.  There are no favorite songs that are your favorite just because they are catchy.  You have to connect a life event to this song.
3. Whenever you are shuffling through your iPod/iPhone/MP3 device, you always stop to listen to it.  Obviously it doesn't count when the circumstance isn't right, but when you are alone and hear the intro, you stop and listen to it.  If you skip over it because you've heard it too many times, it's not one of your favorites.
4. There is NO ORDER to a favorite song list.  Songs are like best friends, you can have more than one.
5. You must love literally EVERYTHING about the song.  There's nothing you would change.

So, without further ado, this is my Favorite Songs List as of 2013. 

• Layla- Derek and the Dominos.  I would listen to this song on repeat for hours as a kid because I was struck by how fantastic it is.  There aren't enough words to express its genius.  Also I would like to note that the story behind 'Layla' is really interesting.  

• In Your Eyes- Peter Gabriel.  This is a perfect song.  It describes how I feel about God, the people I love, and life in general.  It's just that simple.

• Time of the Season- The Zombies.  Also, if you have ever seen "Prom Night" (the lame horror movie about everybody getting murdered on Prom Night) there is a more contemporary version of this song by the Ben Taylor Band that is also good.  It is not, however, better than the original.

• All I Want is You- U2.  The story behind this is that I've always loved U2, but I didn't know this song until Valentine's Day 2008.  The reason I remember that date is because it was on a VH1 Classic Valentine's Day special.  At first I was more infatuated by the music video (you will see why when you watch it), but it slowly became a song I couldn't live without.

• Fire and Rain- James Taylor.  My teacher in Pre-K would play this during nap time.  True story.  Some things you just never forget.

• Remember (Walking in the Sand)- Aerosmith (originally performed by the Shangri-Las).  Aerosmith is such a fantastic band, so it is odd that my favorite song of theirs is actually not theirs.  I just love what they did with this song.  It is everything that a cover should be.

• I Miss You- Blink 182.  This is because, despite what you may think, I am actually only 20 years old and enjoy the music of my generation.  When people say that music these days has gone to hell, they forget bands like Blink 182 and songs like this.

• Heavy- Collective Soul.  My dad used to play the intro to this song over and over while he drove my brother and I back from school.  When I think of being happy during my childhood I think of those car rides and how this song made me feel invincible.

• Danny's Song- Loggins and Messina.  Despite what you may believe, the reason I like this song is not because my name is Dani.  It's just a happy coincidence.

• Because- The Dave Clark Five.  When I dance with my father at my wedding, it will be to this song.  Out of all of the ways "I Love You" can be said, this song says it in the purest, most wonderful way I can think of.

• Mama, You Been On My Mind- Jeff Buckley (originally by Bob Dylan).  This is another song in which the cover, to me, is better than the original.  Jeff Buckley got me through things that my closest friends couldn't have.  His voice, I'm convinced, has actual healing powers likened to that of Rapunzel's hair and the tears of a Phoenix.

• Shiver- Coldplay.  That's right, this song beats out all of the other Coldplay songs that have hit the top of the charts.  What can I say, I root for the underdog.  Also, if you think about it, the song makes so much sense.  They are shivering because they are COLDplay.  Get it?!! Ha.

• Unchained Melody- The Righteous Brothers. Fun fact: I think Simon Cowell also really loves this song.  There's just nothing better than a man hitting notes that high.  

• Sunday I'll Be Gone- VAST.  A theme that I've noticed in this list is that beautiful voices are important to me.  This is especially true for Jon Crosby and this track in particular.  I am just a sucker for tragic songs and that is something VAST excels at.  

• Silent Running- Mike and the Mechanics.  I have always thought this song was a perfect combination of lyrics and melody.  Paul Carrack's voice is haunting (see Tempted by Squeeze), and the words he sings are unsettling in a very good way.

• Everybody Wants to Rule the World- Tears for Fears.  The beginning of the song sounds like a cold shower right after a grueling workout.  It is refreshing.  It's everything I love about music of the 80's.  

• And I Love Her- The Beatles.  You may believe the Beatles are overrated, the Stones are better, or maybe you have never even bothered to listen to them.  Regardless of these beliefs you can't hear this song and not fall in love with it.

I just realized that there are no songs by women on my favorite songs list.  This is upsetting, but the facts are facts.  I must make a post about female artists soon.  That is all for today.

What I've Been Up To

So, I went to visit my cousins in Georgia last week for the fourth of July and found myself right in the middle of Redneck Nation.  I hope the citizens of Jasper County, GA don't mind me saying that, but it is definitely true.    

 Here's an example of the culture shock I experienced when visiting Jackson Lake:

Yes, this is a VW bug attached to a dissembled boat...

This is pretty self-explanatory.

This is less self-explanatory.  It is actually the underside of a deer's tail, as we were later told by  a local.  The facial features were added by the taxidermist.  I am not making this up.

Now, I know that it seems like I'm making fun of this lifestyle, but the truth is that I wish I grew up in the South.  I mean, geographically I was raised 7 hours south of "The South", but Tampa may as well be New York City in comparison to the backwoods of Georgia.  They all have a southern accent, impeccable manners, and aren't the least concerned about living in an area where Rattlesnake Repellent is commonplace.  I'm a little embarrassed, but I thought that a fishing weight was a bullet.  Like, for a gun.  Think about that.

I wish that I didn't feel awkward when I sing along to a country song with a fake accent.  I wish I wasn't terrified that my boyfriend had a tick when we came back from Georgia.  According to Brad Paisley, ticks are pretty normal and even a little sexual.  The first time I went to a gun range was a week ago.  I guess I'm just not all that well-rounded.

Either way, this is what I've been listening to lately.  A lot of it is country (what I listened to in Georgia) and some of it isn't.  I guess the moral of this blog is that Florida is an odd place in relation to the states that surround it.  Music crosses cultural boundaries in a way that I find important as I get older and experience new things.

1) Unorthodox Jukebox- Bruno Mars.  My favorite tracks are: "Locked Out of Heaven", "Gorilla", "Natalie", and "If I Knew".  It's just a great album, I'm a really big fan.

2) Blue- Malbec.  I have a weird habit of downloading soundtracks, and this song is featured in "My Best Friend's Girl".  I've never seen the movie, but the song is just adorable.

3) Don't Ya- Brett Eldredge.  This is just a cute song that makes me dance.  Also I've made a very keen observation that Brett Eldredge looks a lot like Josh Dallas (aka Prince Charming on "Once Upon A Time").  Exhibit A:

Nailed it.

4) Geraldine- Glasvegas.  This showed up on my playlist and I remembered how much I love it.  Sometimes social workers are just inspiring enough to write a song about.  This is a song I think everybody should know.

5) Good Directions- Billy Currington.  This is one of my favorite country artists, and it has almost nothing to do with his gorgeous face.  

 6) Madness- Muse.  I've always loved Muse, but this song is one of their best thus far.  That's saying a lot, too.                                                                                                                                       7) Me Me Me- Lars and the Hands of Light.  I discovered this song in Hollister, believe it or not.  Great things happen when buying gift cards for your cousin's birthday.  It's fantastic, that's all there is to it.                                                                                                                                                                                                 8) Subterranean Homesick Blues- Bob Dylan.  I think this song is pretty underrated, especially because the music video is iconic.  I just want to learn all the words and quote it on a daily basis.  That's not too much to ask.

9) Could It Be- Charlie Worsham.  Another cute country song that is pretty forgettable, but when I hear it I'll sing along and be instantly happy.  Also I'm pretty confident that Charlie Worsham looks a lot like Judd Nelson (aka John Bender from "The Breakfast Club").  Exhibit B:

This is another similarity that nobody else seems to see, but one day my genius for seeing doppelgangers will be realized.  I digress.

10. It Goes Like This- Thomas Rhett.  It's a cute little song that goes well with driving home from work on a Wednesday night.  It goes well with most everything.  Side note: I'm pretty satisfied with the number of attractive country singers that have recently produced music videos. 

Yeezus and other Religious Musings

I am a practicing Christian.

People immediately jump to conclusions about me based on this fact.  Possibly, I am a terrible follower of Jesus due to the music I listen to, the lifestyle I lead, and the opinions I have.  Either that or I am a terrible music critic because I obviously believe that the only credible music in the eyes of God is gospel.  This is not, however, how I feel.

I believe God has put musicians on earth to show that He is accessible through many mediums. That means he can even be heard through the writing of non-believers, you just have to hear it and feel it.  Note:  This is conditional to the specific musician and the personal beliefs of the listener, just like anything else in the world.  What I believe brings me closer to God may not to the next person and visa versa.

You may be thinking that this is my way to justify my music taste in the eyes of God.  You are right.  I'm sure that I listen to songs that He would not approve of, but that does not define the quality of a relationship.  That's all I will say about that.

All of this being said,

I am sure that musicians have an equally hard time justifying the music they write with their faith. This is a universal problem.  A prime example, as stated in the title of this post, is the new album Yeezus by Kanye West.  It is no secret that he is my favorite rapper.  To those that know me very well it is also no secret that I can recite "Jesus Walks" line for line.  I do, however, find fault in this album due to the conflicting ideas between his Christianity and the content of some songs. 

 I will be the first to say that music should not be censored or watered down, but does that mean that it should even have super explicit content in the first place?  There is a line of what is acceptable for every person, which I understand, but what is the line for Kanye West, a self-professed Christian?  I don't know if there is one, because in this album he actually equates himself to God in a way that I personally am uncomfortable with.

Now, all of this moral hoo-haa aside, what do I think of the album?  What do I think of the actual music?  Can the morality and the artistry be separated at all?  I don't know if I have answers to all of those questions, but I am going to state my personal opinions with each song I feel is notable.

I hope it's very obvious by now that I don't think or want everyone to agree with me, but I'm putting it in cyberspace because it's a controversial subject that is worth at least considering.  Plus I love Kanye.

1. On Sight- From a secular point of view this song is very listenable.  It seems to be an elaboration of "Stronger", which as everybody knows can't be a bad thing for album sales.  I also enjoy the bridge cutting into the song the way it does. I think that Kanye often uses a shock factor that ruins the song for people like me.  He didn't have to curse that much or write about what he did, and I don't appreciate that aspect of it. Bottom line: I don't think that the artistry of the song outweighs the lyrical content that I am opposed to.   

2. Black Skinhead- So, I'm Catholic.  However, I'm not offended by what he says in this song because I've heard worse from other Christians about Catholics.  That's the thing about this song, the political inaccuracy is ironic and therefore very important to hear.  I think that the anger is necessary and the cursing is warranted. Bottom line: The song is not a classic and by far not marketable for 80% of music listeners, but it is a song worth listening to. 

* I'd like to add that a lot of interesting information can be found on songfacts.com and artistfacts.com, not only on this song or any other Kanye West song, but on almost any artist you can imagine.

3. I Am A God (feat. God)- I assume that he says the song is featuring God because the song features a lot of ideas from the Bible. This sounds like Christian rap, but way better because it isn't terrible.  I don't like the sound of the woman crying in the background, but I do enjoy that it sounds like "Heard 'Em Say".  Bottom Line: Even though Kanye is super cocky and it's a little annoying, I think that this song was truly inspired by God.  It is candid, beautiful, and overall well executed.

4. New Slaves- Simply put, I feel the same way about this track as I do with "Black Skinhead", except the line about being...a "swallower" is trashy and unnecessary.  However, I would rather listen to this song over the other just because the bass line is really catchy.

Those are the tracks I think are most relevant to morality.  I can't say that it's an album I will listen to regularly because it is a little distasteful, but it's still relevant in the music scene and that's exactly what he was going for, isn't it?   

Summertime

You wouldn't know it by how pasty-white my skin is,

but it's summertime.  I haven't been out much.  Even if I did go out, it would take a long time for me to show any signs of a tan.  Am I bitter about that?  A little.  However, I have nobody to blame but myself unless you want to get technical and blame my father's ancestors for this pale and stubborn Polish skin I have inherited. 

Regardless of whose fault this is, the fact remains that I am still on the computer rather than soaking up any sun.  So, in order to atone for this I am just going to make a playlist.  I will burn this playlist and play it in my car as I make the 4.5 hour journey back to my parents' house this week to see my brother graduate from high school.  While I am there I intend to go to the beach, enjoy my free time, and make up for spending all of May staying indoors.  I cannot be more excited about it, so this playlist is a product of my excitement.

1) Blister In the Sun- Violent Femmes

2) Spotlight- Gucci Mane feat. Usher

3) Water- Brad Paisley (This can also be interchanged with "Beat this Summer", but I like Water better)

4) At the Beach- the Avett Brothers

5) Never Let You Go- Third Eye Blind

6) Long Hot Summer- Keith Urban

7) Sweetness- Jimmy Eat World

8) Summer of '98- Secret Handshake

9) I Do- Better Than Ezra

10) Summer Girls- LFO

11) Little Secrets- Passion Pit

12) Bad Girls- M.I.A.

13) Treasure- Bruno Mars

14) I Can't Lie- Maroon 5

15) Man Down- Rihanna

16) If We Ever Meet Again- Timbaland feat. Katy Perry

17) Lover, Lover-Jerrod Niemann

18) One Week of Danger- The Virgins

19) So Lonely- The Police

20) Keep Me In Mind- Zac Brown Band

As Previously Mentioned,

My brother of 18 years is graduating high school this week.  I cannot believe it's been 2 years since I moved out.  It's weird to think that I haven't been able to see him every day, or even every few months.  I'm tremendously proud of him.  So, in honor of Greg and his accomplishments, I have a picture of us and a song that relates to him in many ways.

Go-Getter Greg- Ludo

Happy June, Everybody.

Here's a Post About Jazz.

To be honest, I don't know a lot about jazz.

I took "The History of Jazz" my first semester in college and got an A, but if I told you I went to more than half of the classes I'd be lying.  Also, if I told you I was awake for the classes I did attend that would also be a lie.  I don't know why I couldn't stay lucid because I really am interested in jazz.  The songs and artists I do know are some of my all time favorites.  So, when the opportunity to attend the jazz festival downtown arose obviously I took it.  We decided to wear red, white, and blue for Memorial Day, drink girlie drinks, and look sophisticated while exposing ourselves to culture.  I'd like to think we did just that.

This is me with a pineapple.  It was awkward to hold as you can see.

Jennifer and her son, Austin, and the same pineapple.

This is all of us just outside The Landing.

This is what I learned about jazz from the Jacksonville Jazz Festival:

1. Some women really should invest in clothes that fit properly.  In the Florida heat it is not wise to wear clingy clothing, especially if you are prone to profuse sweating.
2. A dress like the one I wore does have the tendency to blow in the wind and consequently flash every man, woman, and child in my 10 foot radius.  They did see my undergarments and for that I feel awful.
3. Pineapples make awesome drinking vessels only if you like being poked with the bristly part and carrying a giant ass fruit in your hand all day.  It does, however, make for a cute picstitch on instagram.
4. Homeless people do in fact enjoy festivals and the subsequent crowding of their turf due to all of the free samples and whatnot.  Also, it gives them more opportunities to make casual conversation with unsuspecting girls walking by.  I learned that firsthand.

So there you have it. 

I know nothing new about jazz after the festival, but I did learn some valuable life lessons.    In honor of the Jazz Festival, I'll post my favorite pre-existing jazz or jazz-influenced music.  This is really just scraping the surface,  but I have to start somewhere.

• Last Train Home- Pat Metheny.  My dad is my sole influence here, and I don't know why this is one of the only jazz bands I grew up listening to.  This band has a way of making jazz accessible to a younger generation that I really like.
• Take Five- The Dave Brubeck Quartet.  This song has been featured in I don't even know how many TV shows and movies.  I'd venture to say it's one of the most recognizable jazz songs out there.
• Mack the Knife- Louis Armstrong. It goes without saying that any Louis Armstrong song you hear is the epitome of jazz. This song was actually written in German for an opera but was popularized here in it's translated English version.  Of course, the more popular version by Bobby Darin is slightly watered down, but I suppose more listenable for some. 
• God Bless The Child- Billie Holiday.  Most of these songs are sung by multiple artists and you can find all of their individual covers easily.  I'm picking songs to feature based on the song itself, and in this case God Bless the Child is a classic.  Billie Holiday, like the other women I will list shortly, could sing the phone book and make me cry.  They are so supremely talented.
• My Baby Just Cares For Me- Nina Simone.  Due to the fact that Nina Simone is probably my favorite female jazz singer, I also must note some of my other favorites that she performs. Many people know Sinnerman without realizing it (probably due to it being featured in a Mac commercial recently).  Feeling Good is another popular song, and I just really love Ain't Got No, I Got Life even though it's a departure from the classic jazz genre and more bluesy.
• I Just Want to Make Love to You- Etta James. I know that most of her music is more bluesy than jazzy, but these genres are so closely intertwined and her voice is so beautiful that I must include Etta James in my list.  I have her compilation album "At Last!" and whenever I hear her voice I stop what I'm doing just to really hear her sing.
• How High the Moon- Ella Fitzgerald.  Scat is such an important part of jazz that Ella Fitzgerald can't not be included in my list.  Also, as a mediocre piano player I really admire jazz piano when I hear it.
• Turn Me On- Norah Jones. Like I said, this is a cover, but I had to include it because her voice is so beautiful with the piano and I love her versions of classic jazz songs.
• I Only Have Eyes For You- Jamie Cullum.  This is a more pop/jazz song and a very eclectic interpretation, but Jamie Cullum is a fantastic pop/jazz artist so I figured I'd throw him on my list.  Another version of this song that is awesome is by The Flamingos.
• In My Arms- Jeff Buckley.  You will find out soon, as I plan to devote an entire post to this man, that I love Jeff Buckley with a love greater than words can express.  Out of my favorite artists, he is my favorite favorite.  He is very heavily influenced by Nina Simone and the like, so you can see why I would include him on this list.
• In A Sentimental Mood- Duke Ellington and John Coltrane.  I picked this song because it's great and it combines two of the most recognizable names in jazz music.  It really does put you in a sentimental mood.
• I Got A Woman- Ray Charles.  I hear this song and think of Stevie Wonder, early funk, and rock and roll of the mid 20th century.  Obviously I also think of Kanye West and Jamie Foxx.  Ray Charles and the jazz genre was essential to the evolution of music as we know it today.

After writing this I'm realizing that at some point I will have to do a blues-themed post.  These genres are just too similar and they overlap so much I am getting slightly overwhelmed by it all.  I'd say this was a good week for me and jazz.

Just Ugly Enough For Stardom

I've been thinking about the chicken and the egg.

Or rather, the rock star and their popularity.  Which comes first, looking like a rock star or actually having the talent to be one?  My guess is that it's different for every person.  As we all know, there are bands that look like rock stars but, in fact, are about as musically inclined as my cat.  That is, not very much.  Some examples of these people:

Age has not been kind to these men.  Neither was the music industry.  Actually, neither was the reality TV industry.

A true hero of Sports Half Time entertainment.

This is my cat Ellie.  She looks like a rock star but is not actually musically inclined.  Also she's adorable.

Then again,

Some of the best artists I can think of definitely look the part.  I wonder if looking this way gave them the confidence to perform music and live their lives as celebrities, or their dress was just a by-product of what they had already produced.  A few of my favorite looks are these:

If you listen to When the Levee Breaks and then look at this picture, it's obvious that they are doing exactly what they should be doing, and marketing themselves accordingly.

Beyonce. This goes without saying.  She would have talent without her looks, but do her looks and style help develop her talent?  Or does the talent evolve on its own?

David Bowie.  Ziggy Stardust. He is prime evidence that a stylized persona does affect a musician's evolution.  I just don't know whether one can exist without the other for most celebrities.

And then there are the underdogs.

 The ones who, despite all odds, convinced people that they were worthy of radio play.  They look like people we see in the car next to us at a stoplight.  They certainly can look like men we pass by at WalMart and wonder what they are doing with their lives.  But lo and behold, they are doing a lot with their lives without any help from makeup, hairspray, or jeans that really are just a little too tight.  These are the people that are a true marvel because they are in the business doing only one thing: making fantastic music out of nothing.  Here are some people that are notably normal, if you can believe it.

My love for this Ed Sheeran is no secret.  It's also no secret that he was asked to change his hair color in his early recording days.  I'm personally glad he didn't because...well for one he's endearing the way he is.  Also, he would look super creepy with any other hair color, similar to a vampire.

A true musical hero, Paul Simon really does look like my next door neighbor.

Phil Collins is the ultimate "normal" guy.  However, I learned today that this is his daughter...

So now we know he's good for at least 2 things: being a kickass musician and making surprisingly gorgeous offspring.  

Lastly...

The men of Radiohead.  It is obvious that over the years they actively decided not to become a product of the Top 40 charts.  They are who they are, even if that is slightly scary middle aged men who have incidentally won multiple grammys.  I can vibe with that.

So, that is basically how I group stars when I see pictures of them.  I think it is a rare and beautiful thing when a celebrity looks normal.  I am aware that there are many more people that would fit wonderfully into this post, and commentary is welcomed!