COTM | Thriller

Snapple Tropical Mango Antioxidant Water - it's Monday!

So I was going to wait 3 weeks for this, but this is just too good. In less than 3 weeks we will all be celebrating one of the most important days in like World History....

...the anniversary of Michael Jackson's Thriller! That's right December 1st [which is also World AIDS Day] is the 25th Anniversary of one of the best albums - with one of the weirdest alternative covers, but I digress. Oh Thriller. They don't make albums like that anymore. It's just amazing on so many levels. Shall we review? Here's how you know an album is the ish diddles and has ridiculous staying power....

• Music Video: The Thriller video is like an actual movie - and that mess scared the bejeezuz out of me when I was little. For the record, never show a child "The Making of Thriller" - ever... especially while that child happens to be visiting Africa.
  

• Publicity: MJ just made the cover of Ebony Magazine....and he's not even Ebony anymore! Influence.
  

• Dance: I know the entire dance - and so do you - don't deny it. But... um... er... uh... when a detention center in the Philippines reenacts the entire video 24 years later?! Did I mention that this is a male detention center? So that unattractive woman you see at the beginning & end....well...you figure it out.

• Remakes: Chris Brown wasn't even born when this album was released. Fast forward to the end - it has a montage of his videos. Good stuff.
  

• Album Sales: Thriller is the best selling album of all time! Purple Rain has to be a close second...if not, I'll cry.
  

• Concerts: The Thriller tour was clearly one of the best ever. Ahh...1987...when I had a serious crush on MJ. This is also the year my bro JP got me MJ's Bad album and secured my happiness and bestest, awesomest brother in the world status. I still remember the day as though it was yesterday...."put the needle on the record"...

• Songs: Thriller, Beat It, PYT, The Girl is Mine, The Lady in My Life, Human Nature...lyrical goodness!!! And I quote, " Where Did You Come From Lady, And Ooh Won't You Take Me There; Right Away Won't You Baby; Tendoroni You've Got To Be; Spark My Nature Sugar Fly With Me" - genius. Do you know how many folks have remixed his songs?!?!
  

Michael Jackson may be a little different... but he sure makes some good music! Since most of you aren't working anyways [you really shouldn't be reading this e-mail at work...you should be ashamed] - I have a project for you. Remember the good times - think of your favorite Michael Jackson song and make that your theme song for the week. Oh - and let me know what it is!

Words of wisdom, words of wisdom.

Have a great week!

p.s: Here's your MOS - I don't know...this kind of scared me more than the original video.

COTM | You Need A Vaca!

Snappy Day - it's time for a Vaca! Happy Monday!

I don't know about you but I'm in serious need of a vacation y'all. I never thought I'd say this, but we should be more like Europe... wait for it...in that they go on "holiday" like 6 weeks out of the year. Only in America does one take only 5 days off of work the entire year.

You know what? I think you need a vacation too. Wanna know how I know? I thought you'd never ask...

• You've made at least 1 comical video using pictures of your co-workers, celebrities, and/or political figures. Who said Kim Jung Il only looks good in a military uniform? Wait...who said Kim Jung Il looks good??
  

• Your minimal free time at work is spent looking up vacation packages to Zanzibar and other places affiliated with Queen. On an unrelated topic - who would like to go to Zanzibar with me in December? About 5-7 days? Honeymoon package?
  

• The issues of the world plague you everyday...and you like to make-up hilarious songs about them.
  

• Last week you left work early...and you're a doctor...and you were in the middle of heart surgery.

• Forget effort, now you just come into work in whatever is semi-clean...like your dining room drapes.
  

• At your last company meeting your co-worker took the last bagel. You looked him straight in the eye and said, " leggo my eggo" and then grabbed the bagel out of his hands and walked away.

• Watching Office Space makes you cry - because you can relate in the worst way .
  

Basically, it's probably time for a vacation when your priorities are all out of whack. And from what I gather, a lot of you have some suspect priorities. My advice? Take a vacation! Even if it means building a fort in your living room and calling it Yosemite National Park. You gotta do what ya gotta do!

Words of wisdom, words of wisdom.

Have a great week!

p.s : Here's your MOS - sigh...such a good movie.

COTM | Tiara Day

"Just another manic Monday! [oh-woe] I wish it were a Sundaaaaayy [oh-we-oh]..."

Well first of all, I'd like to wish you all a happy "World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue & Development." And nope - I didn't make that one up. It's a real holiday....and it's today. And you all should be ashamed for not properly celebrating it. Unless, of course you're busy celebrating National Wait Staff Day or Sheep Day...'cause those are also today and I would totally understand if you felt overwhelmed by all the celebration. And don't even get me started on gifts! sigh.

Which brings me to the topic of the week: weird holidays. Gone are the days of anticipating major holidays - you know, the ones that drive our conspicuous consumption: Easter, Valentine's Day, Halloween, anything in December, etc. There's a holiday out there for every day of the year...and I think we should celebrate as many as possible. I'll go ahead and throw out a few that perhaps we can celebrate together. Forget a 4th of July boat cruise, let's get together for...

• June 23rd: Let It Go Day | Yes gurrlll, let it go!

• July 15: Be A Dork Day | This shouldn't be too difficult for me.

• August 13: International Left Handers Day | Finally!...we will be recognized!

• September 5: Be Late for Something Day | I'll leave this one alone.

• October 13: International Skeptics Day | I don't know...maybe we shouldn't celebrate this one. Ok, yeah. Wait, no.

• November 10: Area Code Day | 6-1-2!!!

• December 22: National Haiku Poetry Day | Case of the Mondays; Anna has much time on hands; In need of new job
  

So this week, celebrate something different. Me, myself, personally?! - I'll be wearing a Tiara all day on Thursday 'cause it's Tiara Day. Oooh I can't wait!

Words of wisdom, words of wisdom.

Have a great week!

p.s: In case you really feel like procrastinating and looking at old Case of the Mondays... http://oh-mondays.blogspot.com/

p.p.s: Here's your MOS [Moment of Schadenfreude]: Folks have sent this to me several times in the past week so I figured, why not pass it on? Honestly, I think Michael Jackson & Eddie Murphy should do another duet. But this time, without the Harlem Boys Choir. That's just wrong.

COTM | Schadenfreude

Snappy Monday to ya!

I hope you all had a great Mother's Day yesterday. And if you didn't, just watch this. It'll make everything better... gua-ran-teed! There's something about Mr. T that just makes me smile...

Actually, let me be honest. I like this video simply because Mr. T looks like a "fool" rappin' in those denim dukes...and everyone knows I pity the fool [mainly 'cause I've been the fool before]. Which brings me to my topic of the week: Schadenfreude - "pleasure taken from someone else's misfortune." Have you noticed that we [America] practically revolve around this? Ok, be honest, when someone bites it and falls down the stairs or stumbles, do you laugh? BE HONEST. Fibbers! I saw some of your reactions a few years ago when you watched this Fox News bit...



Yeah. That's what I thought. Now, I'm no supporter of Schadenfreude considering I've had my moments (Kaic & Dani - 'member that gun control commercial we were in?) ... but I know some of you all are ;-) You should be ashamed of yourselves! Being 2007 at all, it's so easy to see Schadenfreude at its best because of ingenious websites like YouTube and iFilm. Not only can you laugh at other people's misfortune, but you can replay it over and over again! God bless America and its semi-evanescent First Amendment. Unfortunately because of these sites, people have lost their jobs, friends, and/or dignity. It's a shame, really. I truly think that this week we should all try to avoid schadenfreude.

LOL - that was funny! I slay me. Since avoiding it altogether is impossible, here's my advice for the week: Always destroy the tape...always.

Words of wisdom, words of wisdom.

Have a great week!

p.s: I may have to include a moment of Schadenfreude in every e-mail...is that wrong? I missed church yesterday and clearly the effects are immediate! sheesh!