Thursday, February 21, 2008

Guess Who's Back?

So, I've finally gotten back to as close to normal as I think I'm ever going to get. I have been adjusting to motherhood and still trying to be borderline creative. So, I finally had a big gripe and I needed to discuss it.
But, before we get to that, I wanted to let my tens of readers know that I have created a blog called http://sadiequinn.blogspot.com. You can go there for baby pics, stories, and links. I am doing this so as not to bore everyone with baby stuff. Now, I will only bore interested parties.

Now, on to my gripe...

So, there is a commercial on Starz talking about Black History Month. In the commercial this white female comic says, "Notice how comics talk about their most painful moments? One man made that happen." She is talking about Richard Pryor. We then cut to a scene of her doing comedy. She is doing some of the most hack, girly, my dating history type comedy. This whole thing bothers me. There was not one person available to talk about truly painful experiences? And, why a white female comic? Is it to show how Pryor influences so many? Then why not actually show someone who is honoring him, not doing some "safe" comedy.

If anyone else has seen this commercial and has an opinion, let me know. Maybe I'm off base, but I feel like Pryor would eat this woman for dinner.

As I watched the commercial I thought about when I performed for Paul Mooney. He saw me and heard my name and proceeded to say, "What's your name? Amy? That's cute. Tell your jokes." I proceeded to go full force and do my A material. I had to work hard to get some dap from Mooney, but I did. And, I didn't tell any jokes about blind dates.



"Talking about blind dates. Bitch please. Unless that date set you on fire I don't want to hear it!"

Monday, January 07, 2008

Before this Baby Pops...

I'm very close to dropping this baby like a Lil' Wayne mixtape. I thought before I went to mommy land for a bit I would recommend anyone with an iPod or iTunes download the first season of The State on your system.

The State was a first rate sketch show with a young cats. Many of them now can be seen in things like Renio 911, Stella, and the movie The Ten. Check it out. For old fans it's a great find. If you never watched it, check it out.

http://www.the-state.com/

http://www.itunes.com

Monday, December 17, 2007

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

A Charlie Brown Christmas...

This post is really about celebrating the holiday season (whatever holiday you celebrate) by doing something a little bigger than yourself. I love the holidays and feel they are a celebration of family, life, and the hope of the coming year. I personally love the holidays.
What I do not love is the stores ramming it down my throat right after Halloween. It's too much and always makes me grouchy. My inner Mr. Brown comes out and I yell a cathartic "good grief!" But, this year I decided to really do something for the holidays that mean something.
I donated a laptop from the charity "One Laptop per Child". The goal of this organization is to get every child in developing countries and those underserved in the US a free computer made possible by donations. I saw the founder on 60 Minutes and for the past year have been following this organization. Yesterday I got online and bought their laptop.
If you do it now, you will also get a laptop sent to your residence to give to a child in your life. The computer uses battery power, can be cranked, and is made to withstand desert and rainforest conditions. For $400 I am getting 2 computers, one for a child somewhere else and one for my future child. I also get to tax deduct $200 on my taxes for basically being a decent person.
I know it's easy to get cynical and humbug things like this. But, truly, giving is something we can do. If you can't afford to purchase one you can donate any amount of money to the foundation.
This "Give one/Get one" offer is only happening until Dec. 30th. Just stop by the website and check it out.
http://www.laptopgiving.org
Happy Hannukah, Merry Christmas, Joyous Kwaanzaa, Happy New Year, and Happy Diwali to everyone!

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

This Week in WTF?!?!?!?!

So, this week is shaping up to be totally bizarre and funny. Just the way I like it.

First things first...
Jay-Z was on Charlie Rose- the format of the show and the formality of the show made this interview just weird. Jay-Z is a great intervew and Charlie Rose did a good job. But, watching these two talk almost created a space-time rift in my living room.

Now, onto things with links...
Stephon Marbury is blackmailing Isiah Thomas for his starting position. Mr. Sex Truck has even more damaging information on Mr. Thomas than we already knew? Somebody get me some movie theater popcorn and a soda, this should be good.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/2007/11/14/2007-11-14_stephon_marbury_threatens_to_dish_info_a.html

Mariah Carey has created her own perfume called "M". I can't wait to use it while I enjoy time in my tub with clothes on or hanging in my butterfly room reading notes from my adoring fans.
http://www.mariahcareybeauty.com/

Britney Spears kids teeth have offically made me angry. They are really nasty and maybe Britney should have used white strips on them. There are no pictures of the teeth here. But, check out Pink is the New Blog for pics of those chompers.
http://blog.vh1.com/2007-08-28/britneys-kids-have-rotting-teeth/

And finally, Lyndon LaRouche has been a staple of crazy people politics about as long as L. Ron Hubbard has been a staple of crazy people religion. This article is a fascintaing piece about his career and followers. If you haven't heard of this guy this is a nice introduction to him and his followers.
http://www2.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2007/0711.klein.html

Thursday, November 01, 2007

This is Why Home Schooling Scares Me...

Read this profile of home-schooled "Kid Nation" contestant Nathan. I find it hard to believe he came up with these opinions on his own.

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/kid_nation/bios/nathan/

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Great Post from Craigslist...

I just read this hilarious rant on Craigslist and wanted to post it verbatim.
And, after reading it, let me ask all of you a question: who bothers you most on the subway?


OK, I have been riding the subway every day for a lot of years. When you start riding, it doesn't take a much time to see all sorts of characters. At first, these people sightings might be somewhat shocking or even funny, but you begin to grow used to the pants less, toothless, yelling, drunk, cracked out, stinky, sweaty, and perverted characters that ride the subway. They really don't bother you much; in fact I welcome a little cameo from these guys once in a while. After all, it is part of our city culture.

That said I have compiled a list – a spilling of my mental Rolodex of the people I share the subway with on a daily basis. These are the monsters I can't get used to and won't accept. They annoy the ever-loving piss out of me. Thing is, I never see these hooligans all at once, but I do see one at least once a day.

- Lady that fans herself with a piece of paper in the train car with broken a/c: Look lady, the air is hot. Not just your air but everyone's air. We are all breathing in each other's nasty hot breath and germs and here you go creating a gust of hot wind. This does not cool you down and it is especially fucking annoying when the car happens to be stuck that day, all is silent and we are forced to listen to the flip flopping of your paper up and down as you breath in and out deeply. So fucking ridiculous.

- Chinese guy with yellow nails and a bag of chicken feet: Dude, I'm not even kidding, you are nasty as hell. No one likes a set of long man-nails near them EVER and here you are wrapping those daggers around the center subway pole nearly slicing innocent bystanders as the plastic bag of chicken feet sways near your legs. Oh yes, and what are you going to do with those chicken feet anyway? Take advantage of us poor unknowing customers by grinding them up to use as filler in the next batch of HAPPY FAMILY from the local Jade Garden? I mean Jesus.

- Asshole with the sunglasses on: OK, there is no sunshine on the subway. This is not the L train pal. You sit there with your black as night shades on clearly staring at people for as long as you please. That's just wrong. Your probably staring at the lady's tits who is standing above you or even undressing some poor middle schooler with your eyes. Not only are you taking ample amounts of time to fanaticize about unsuspecting riders, but you look like an idiot doing it. This is especially worse when you also chew gum with an open mouth like a friggin' cow. You are drawing attention to yourself now and I can tell by the direction of your neck muscles that you were staring at me! Lady on the 8:30 F train Monday morning - you know who you are!

- Jerk that leans over you to look at the subway map: OK, your ball sac is 2 inches from my face. You don't care do you? Even though you've traumatized me and I lean back in my seat to shy far far away from your jewels, you lean in closer to get a better look at where to transfer from the E to the D train! Yuk man, have some manners. This is worse when you are sleeping with your head in your hands and wake to find a pants slacks covered man bulge in your grill.

- Ghostfarter: OK, I know it may be hard to hold it, but if you had diarrhea this morning of course your farts are going to reek! I mean the train is crowded with little ventilation yet you subject us to the rotten remnants of your ass-meal. This is inconsiderate and nasty! Hey if one clipped out, OK - it's happened to the best of us but you try to move around a bit and circulate. Don’t just stand there and poof out stinker after stinker while you read your paper! I'm talking about the well-dressed guy in the suit or the one hot chic on the train, it was probably you!

- Asshole with the book bag: If your bag more than 3 inches off of your back for god's sakes put it in front of you toward the floor! This is common knowledge!! I can't tell you how many times some retard with a book bag extending 3 feet tall off his back has decided to turn around and talk to his friend or bend down to tie his shoe and clock me one without knowing the difference. Yeah, that was me who bumped you on purpose. I hate you!

- Lady that hugs the pole on a crowded train: Are you fucking blind!?? There are other people riding the train with you jerk but yet you proceed to make sweet love to the silver pole. Can we maybe hold on for a second TOO so we don't break and ankle??!!! Then, when we ask you to move you PRETEND you don't speak English. Real nice. Why don't you walk to work with a broomstick and hug that you shitbag.

- Nail Clipping Fool: This means you regular business guy with no regard or oblivious Asian lady. Jesus Christ, does anyone have manners?? DO NOT CLIP YOUR NAILS ON THE SUBWAY! I should be making signs for god's sakes! Not only are we subjected to the resonating sound of your clipping but your nail shrapnel is flying every which way and hitting men, women and children. This is by far the most disgusting thing ever. I'd like to take a free shot at your gut while fellow train riders hold you up.

Thursday, October 04, 2007

What a Crappy Time to Be a Woman

Here are a few links related to some items about women and children. Neither seem to be having a great week.

"Is a Mommy Job Necessary?"
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/04/fashion/04skin.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1
This story from the NY Times fashion section details to pressure of women to get full body lifts after pregnancy (boob job, tummy tuck, lipo). As if pregnant women and mothers need any more to worry about.

"Idiot's Guide to the Isiah Trial"
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/070927
Bill Simmons breaks down the whole case. Needless to say, after the "win", women still have a long way to go. Between the culture at MSG we have an intern who slept with players and got promoted for it. She then got another promotion before testifying and THEN talked about how difficult her job was. Thanks for destroying female credibility all by yourself!

"Why Bush was dumb to veto SCHIP"
http://www.slate.com/id/2175243/
Thank God we're keeping insurance companies rich and making sure kids can't get benefits. Socialized medicine is a false argument and not passing this bill keeps doctors AND patients at the mercy of Aetna, HIP, and other insurance agencies.

"The Science of Strippers' Tips"
http://www.salon.com/mwt/broadsheet/?last_story=/mwt/broadsheet/2007/10/04/stripper_tips/
Basically, when you ovulate and lick the pole you make more money. If only this moved us ahead in other fields.

So, there you go. Be prepared to cry and curl up in bed. Happy Reading!

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Always Making Excuses...

It's been a while since I blogged about anything. But, I have some things on my mind and I will start blogging tomorrow in ernest. It's time to get off my enlarged (pregnant) booty and get to work!!!!

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Amy's Summer Round-Up

What I Liked:
Black Girls dressing like Valley Girls circa 1984. I love big pearls and neon.
1408, Stardust, Superbad, and very little else.
US Open tennis. Serena Williams WILL win. I'm betting money on it
USA Basketball. We did great and it got me amped for the upcoming season.
More skateboarding and less thugging
My work with Generation Stockholm

What I Didn't:
The continued dominance of most southern rap. I'm over it.
The entire movie season. (read previous blog)
Scott Baio is 45...and Single. What a jerk this guy is. It was almost laughable, and a special place of hate for his friend "Johnny V."
All the sports drama. Who cares? Just watch sports, every job is filled with jerks.
No good summer shows, excluding Big Love.

Songs of the Summer:
National Player's Anthem (UGK f/ Outkast)
Stronger (Kanye West)
Tambourine (Eve)
The Way I Are (Timbaland and some other people I don't know)
Lovestoned (Justin Timberlake)
Rehab (Amy Winehouse)
Drivin' Me Wild (Common f/ Lily Allen)
The entire Mark Ronson album version (a must buy. Trust me!)

Songs I Wish Would Die:
Umbrella- Horrible. The "ella/ella/ey/ey" crap made my ears bleed.
Hey there Delilah- I liked this sone when Simon and Grafunkle was recording it 40 years ago.
Big Girls Don't Cry- But, I do bleed out of my eyeballs when Fergie tries to sing.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

How To Balance it All?

Yesterday I got my second songram. This is the one they make sure to check for all organs, body parts, etc. I did not find out the sex. There are so few surprises in this day and age, I want this one to be huge. Plus, I am not such a fan of gender specific things. What if your liitle football player wants to be a ballerina and vice versa? That is not something you can force on a child.

The whole event was amazing and as time approaches, I find myself more excited and happy about what is going to happen to my life. But, this whole event has also made me think about many things in my life. Now, my main career is working with children. I love it, but in all honesty I do not see myself working with kids and then coming home to a kid. That would be too much. My love is writing and comedy. I worry daily about how this new life will affect that. Already my energy and stamina have decreased. I worry how I can balance writing, performing, and filming shorts with having a child and being a mother.

I think writing and helping Generation Stiockholm and Josh Homer with filming will still happen. But, I am realisitic. I will probably be off the comedy scene for at least 6 months or more. And that scares me. Whenever I make some headway things in my personal life get nuts. I am really happy with the past few months of what I have been doing. I know that my comedy partner and our endevours would still happen. But, my solo success could have a huge hit.

Who knows what will happen? I sure don't. Right now, I am just trying to work hard, create interesting things, and basically enjoy my husband, my (soon-to-be) baby, all my friends, and where things take me.

If anyone out there has any advice, I will listen. I think comedy and entertainment is already hard on women, I can't imagine what it is like on mothers.

Thanks for listening. This might be the most solopsistic post I've ever written.

Thursday, August 09, 2007

Why was the Summer Movie Season so Bad This Year?

So, I have been hitting the multiplexes this summer. And I have one worrd. BLAH! I usually enjoy summer movies for what they are, mindless fun. But, so far, this summer it hasn't been much fun.

Most movies have been profoundly dissapointing. I have only truly enjoyed 2 movies, 1408 and Knocked Up. Why? Both of these movies were just entertaining. They didn't try to be something they weren't. Ratatouille was fine, but it was not The Incredibles.

All the big stuff Spidey, Harry Potter, Transformers were all let downs.

So, how will my summer be saved? Below is a list of movies I haven't seen yet, but have some faith in:

Bourne Ultimatum
Superbad
Rescue Dawn
Sunshine
Stardust
The 10 (I still have a soft spot for The State)

It's a shame that this summer has been such a letdown. I am going to see Hairspray by myself tomorrow. I am not expecting much. Maybe that's how I should have approached the whole summer.

Monday, July 23, 2007

My Big Geeky Weekend

So, what did you do this weekend?? It probably involved going out, exploring, doing things. Not me! I started my weekend seeing the film 1408. Excellent. The best movie I've seen in this disappointing summer. Then, I went to Virgin Megastore to pick up my pre-ordered copy of Harry Potter.
This is where everything goes off the rails. My husband and I were walking in and saw a small sign that said, "We have the Wii." The first words out of Joe's mouth were, "Where do you think they are?" He made a beeline downstairs and got in line. He got the last one they had that evening. Joe was even more satisfied because the guy behind him looked like a perp on "To Catch a Predator" and crushing dreams is something Joe loves to do. So, he got the Wii, 2 games, and an extra remote.
We then got ready to get our books and saw that the line was ridiculous. So, we went home and fired up the Wii. And, I am not a huge game fan, but let me say something. Nintendo has changed the game. While everyone else fretted about grphical load and adding every extra known to man, the Wii just decided to be the simplest and most interesting console around. The use of the wands with point and click functions along with the functionality of the sensors denoting any movement, make it a more interactive game.
The unit also connects to the internet where you can read news wire articles, get the weather, create avatars called Miis, and purchase almost every game in the NES universe. This creates an interactive and personal game experience. Needless to say, I spent a few hours playing Wario Smooth Moves and Wii Sports. The future is now.
Saturday morning I went and picked up my copy of Harry Potter, I am at page 345 currently and will be getting abck to it as soon as I finish this post. I have loved all the books and have been waiting for a while for this one. I think the books have been amazing and have really boosted a love of reading in many children and adults. I hope that all of Harry's fans continue seeking out good stories.
So, until The Simpsons opens next weekend this, officially, was the geekiest weekend ever.

Friday, July 13, 2007

Generation Stockholm Hits You Tube

Please go to You Tuber and Check out our hilarious new sketch...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn9IhTOY3ks

If the link doesn't work, please search on You Tube using the search Generation Stockholm.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

The World Series of Pop Culture (A Conspiracy Theory)

So, VH1 has started up their competition "The World Series of Pop Culture" again. And, once again, they did not advertise the tests and on-line auditions. For 2 years in a row they have stymied my attempts for pop cultural dominance. I have a good feeling by either through the on-line test or by creating an uber-team that $250,000 would be mine.

Now, why did I label this conspiracy? Because, I am pretty sure VH1 wants to keep it under wraps so that the viewer at home can answer almost as many as the talent. I think if they made the testing rounds widely advertised they would end up getting the savant types that surf the net all day, watch every pop culture show, and basically consume pop culture in a single minded way. By advertising in smaller markets like Chicago, Austin, Miami, and not NYC or LA, they keep the number of people in the pop culture industry or who are just savvy.

Why do I care? Because I want approximately $77,000 ($250,000 split 3 ways before taxes) and I think I would at least have a chance. I'm not sure where I am going with all this. I was just mad watching the show last night and wiping the floor, by myself, with every team.

Oh well, maybe next year.

Thursday, July 05, 2007

By the Time I Get Back From Arizona (apologies to Chuck D.)

So, I just got back from a small trip. Work for the past 2 months has been kicking my ass. I have been trying to write, do comedy, have a job, and biggest of all BE PREGNANT! It's official, and many of you already know, I'm 3 months pregnant. The main reason I haven't been blogging or on the comedy scene is because this whole fetus thing has left me constantly tired and distracted.

Those of you that know me, know that I have never been a big sleeper. In fact, I suscribe to Mr. Nasir Jones' theory that "sleep is the cousin of death." But, over the past few months I have been sleeping like crazy, sick, and basically worhtless. But, after hitting the wall, I have made it over the mountain and am slowly getting back to myself.

I just took a small trip to Arizona for relaxation. I feel great now. I am working several days a week, tutoring, and doing my usual. I am making a new dedication to blogging and writing and hitting mics and guest spots. It's tough but I'm working at it. So much has been going on since I haven't been blogging; the NBA draft, summer movies, Barack Obama, Supreme Court cases, and much more. I will begin back to my old ways blogging and being a part of society.

I know you'va all missed me!

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Sorry So Long...

I plan to write more beginning this weekend. Get ready for the deluge!

Friday, April 06, 2007

Stories of my Life: Grindhouse Edition



I have been eagerly awaiting the release of Grindhouse for a few reasons. 1. I love trashy movies, women in prison, kung fu, you name it. I think they are usually better directed and acted than people give them credit for. They also usually speak frankly on issues in a way a big budget film could. (The new film Shooter is a classic of this style. It is a radical film.) 2. Boobs and violence always get attention. And, 3. A WOMAN WITH A MACHINE GUN LEG!!!!

So, as I get ready to order my tickets I thought about many of the grindhouse experiences I have had.

Growing up, my family always went to the drive-in. The drive-in is the grindhouse of the suburbs. One of the first movies I remember seeing at the drive-in was a double bill of "Blazing Saddles" and "Young Frankenstein". I can honestly say that this experience formed my sense of humor, and my worldview. My mom still can't believe that they let me see this movie at a young age. I always thank her.

My other experience is more generalized. People talk about the "Disney-fication" of Times Square. I can honestly say that in the past 10 years since I moved here, it's gotten worse. There were still a few sex theaters and run down movie houses when I got here.

I always romanticized NYC growing up. I knew I wanted to live here and watched Woody Allen movies, "All that Jazz", and any other movie showing what I thought was city life. Looking at Scorsese films let me see the gritty side. I knew from books and other things that I wanted to see movies in Times Square.

The best memory I have of seeing a movie in a crappy theater was my first few weeks here. My husband and I went to see "Summer of Sam" in Times Square. The theater we went to was paret of a complex of a few theaters and shady souvenir shop. This area is now a foot locker, Swatch Shop, and Toys R' Us.

At the theater we were in a full crowd. The floor was sticky, the seats were falling apart, and the crowd was rowdy. What a way to see the movie. I went to the bathroom at the end. I waited until plenty of people were there. To say the bathroom was a little "rapey" is a understatement.
For almost a year we went to that theater every weekend. By 1999, it was torn down and changed into the mini shopping mall it is today.

Off topic for a minute. We lived in Washington Heights and would go to a movie theater right next to our apartment, sadly, this theater is now a dollar store. Very sad.

So, with all this said, I'll see you at the grindhouse!