An infinite number of John Cusacks holding an infinite number of stereos (Awesome Covers Of Already Awesome Songs)

I went jogging today and listened to Pandora on my phone while jogging instead of listening to my iPod -- because with our new computer we had to reset iTunes and that meant that all my old playlists are gone, and I haven't recreated them yet, so I have no running playlist and didn't feel like sorting through the 12,000 plus songs on my iPod while I ran because if I skip too many songs in a row my iPod jams up, and if that happens it gives me an excuse to quit, but I was very intent on wanting to complete a six-mile run today because I realized last night that each month since November I've actually run less than the month before, so I have to reverse that...

... I'm still a little amped up from the run, and from doing my taxes, which had some incredible lows (we have to pay the feds $1,074) and some not-so-highs (we get back $674 from the state), so bear with me...

... and while I ran I listened to a couple of stations, beginning with Violent Femmes, but I soon quit that because, Pandora, Nirvana (a/k/a The Bee Gees of the 90s) have nothing to do with the Violent Femmes, and instead I switched to the Slow Club station, where I got this song around about mile 5:




That is an awesome cover (as the title implies) of In Your Eyes, and as I ran and listened to it, I couldn't help but think two things:

First, that song would be great in a sequel to Say Anything -- John Cusack could maybe play the song on the guitar, this time -- and isn't it about time that we got a sequel to Say Anything? Shouldn't we have found out if those two made it? I mean, they just got on that plane and that's it?

And, second, as awesome as that cover is, it really demanded some audience participation at the end of it. It almost seemed like he was waiting for it, too, wasn't he?

After listening to that version about ten times on Youtube, I looked at some other versions -- lots of other versions, making me imagine an infinite number of John Cusacks in an infinite number of rainy nights-- and found almost none that were really worthwhile. This band:



makes a big deal about how their cover had to be different, but it sounds more or less like the original.


Sara Bareilles' piano bar version is only adequate:




But I did stumble across this version -- a girl singing along with the song on her webcam, and doing a really good job of making the song her own while staying true to the original:




So kudos to her for having the second best cover of this song.

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The field is lovely, bright, and deep, But I have cries of joy to weep. (Super Bowl Poems for Friday's Sunday's Poem)

It's my third favorite holiday weekend of the year (after 1. Christmas Eve and 2. Black Friday), so what better way to celebrate Super Bowl Sunday than to have some poems written by middle schoolers? Green Bay's Edison Middle School challenged their kids to write Super Bowl poems based on Robert Frost and Joyce Carol Oates' poems -- which means those kids know more about poetry than you and me combined -- and here are the ones I liked best:



The Best Super Bowl!
— Jasmine Wright

I think that I will never see.
A man that is as big as he.

The defensive linemen by the name B.J.
He plays number 90 for Green Bay.

When he gives his belly a great, big shake.
It makes Green Bay have a minor earthquake.

The Green and Gold love to play all day.
Especially when they have a guy named Clay.

His hair is long, and blonde, and sleek.
He dominates the field week after week.

I know the Packers will win it all.
Because they are the KINGS of Football.




GIFSoup


Ode to Aaron Rodgers
-- Irene De La Cruz-Gomez

I think that I shall never see
A quarterback as good as he

He truly is the very best
Scoring a touchdown is his quest

A man that practices all day long
So he can get big and strong

Number 12 will lead us to a win
That guy knows how to throw a pig skin

To Dallas, Texas we all will go
It doesn’t matter if there’s rain, sun, or snow

A Super Bowl win is what we’ll get
It will be a victory we’ll never forget


GIFSoup

Stopping By Lambeau Field
— Rebecca A. Charniak

Whose field this is, I think I know
His plays are over the top though;
He will not see me in this crowd
But when he scores he puts on a show.

My lovely mother must think it queer
To scream when he is nowhere near
Between my living room and Lambeau Field
The happiest night of the year.

B.J. Raji gives his stomach a shake
To ask if the Chicago play was a mistake
The only other sound that was heard
Was the roars and cheers the crowd did make.

The field is lovely, bright, and deep
But I have cries of joy to weep
And Dallas to go before I leap
And Dallas to go before I leap.




And, no, I'm not going to put a Hot Actress. These are MIDDLE SCHOOL kids, you sickies.

Vistaprint coupon codes from Best Online Coupons may help win an election.

As many of you know, I've been running for judge in our county. What you may NOT know about that is that it's REALLY hard to raise money to run for local judge -- the candidate can't ask for money himself, and even if I could, people don't necessarily pony up millions to a judge's campaign.

But I still need fliers, bumper stickers, magnets and yard signs -- and other printed materials, like labels and letterhead and envelopes -- and I've got to get those things on a shoestring budget.

That's why I bookmarked the Vistaprint coupons available through Best Online Coupons. Vistaprint has all the things I need (pens, stamps, notepads, other giveaways) and Best Online Coupons makes those things affordable to an underfunded (but very noble and worthy) judicial campaign.

One coupon gave 60% off all products; another gave free shipping -- which effectively MORE THAN DOUBLED my advertising budget just by using a
Vistaprint free shipping code available online, for free. If I can get stuff half price, I can get double the stuff. That means there might be TWO yard signs out there for me, soon -- more if I can get Sweetie to advance my allowance.

Best Online Coupons has coupons in more areas than that; they've got coupons in every category from A to W -- that's apparel to weddings, but I'll bet they'll find a Y and Z soon, so as soon as online retailers start selling yo-yos and zithers, you'll be able to save on those just like you can save on yard signs (hey, there's a Y!) and baby clothes and laptops and more with the coupons on the site.

So whatever you're shopping for, the Vistaprint coupon codes can save you money -- and maybe help me get elected!