what’s so damn exciting you little monkeys!

Last Friday, Dave and I went on an adventure. We went to the World Famous Schwartz Deli on St. Laurent to try their smoked meat sandwiches. And, we brought a stranger with us.

Foreman, our brand new friend

#49 on the list is ‘Take a Stranger Out For Dinner.’ Why? Why not? Strangers know different things than you know and are happy to share their stories if you ask (or buy them a meal).

yyyuummmm

To be honest though, picking up a stranger on the street ended up being a lot harder than we expected. Even with the offer of a free meal and stimulating conversation, there were still no takers after 40 minutes. Eventually a nice man named Foreman (pictured above) agreed to join us and the date was on. We talked about Canada (he moved from Zaire to here 7 years ago), family, diversity, and how we’d chose to bite the dust, if it were up to us. It was great.

tony - our 2nd new best friend

Before leaving the waiters offered Dave some hot sauce. He accepted and threw some on his sandwich. At first he tried to pretend that he was cool, but he couldn’t hold it. A sweat broke out on his forehead and he chugged his water. Then ate all the fries. Then ordered milk. Then we had to go.

Big thanks to Foreman and to the whole Schwartz team - you guys rock. Now only Duncan and Ben have to take someone out and #49 is off the list! Anyone else out there interested to take someone out too?

Blame Reagan for making me into a monster
Blame Oliver north and Iran-Contra
I ran contraband that they sponsored
Before this rhyming stuff was in concert

-Blue Magic (American Gangster, ‘07)

On the topic of guys I respect, let’s take a quick look at Jay Z - the jigga man that we are working to, one day, spit rhymes with (#85: Record a track with Jay-Z).

In 1996, Jay silenced critics by producing and distributing Reasonable Doubt, his debut LP. In the 12 years since, he’s won 6 Grammys (and earned 26 nominations), served as the CEO of Def Jam Records (the label for Ne-Yo, The Roots, LL Cool J), spent time with Charlie Rose, and put out more hot singles than I care to count. He also owns a NBA team, has a restaurant.. yata yata yata

What Jay brings to music, that no one else does, is a lyrical swagger that’s raw and polished at the same time - fusing ‘accessible’ hooks about money and hoes with deeper philosophical questions like, funnily enough, getting what you want out of life. Many say he’s the best rapper alive. Others say Dave is. When all is said and done, we’ll let you decide.

Whoever said illegal was the easy way out couldn’t understand the mechanics
And the workings of the underworld, granted
Nine to five is how to survive, I ain’t trying to survive
I’m trying to live it to the limit and love it a lot

-D’Evils (Reasonable Doubt ‘96)

I’m not a ‘Business-Man’
I’m a Business… man
Let me handle my business, damn

Diamonds Are Forever (Kanye West / Late Registration, 2005)

the fifth member of The Buried Life?

While I’m not going to speak for Dunc, Dave and Ben on this one, I do want to say that, in my opinion, Mr. Barrack Obama is one cool cat. If I were American, I’d vote for him. How refreshing it is to see such a charismatic leader on the rise (even Will.I.Am is giving shout outs). If Stephan Harper (the Canadian Prime Minister, for those that aren’t familiar) were even half as articulate as Big-O, I wouldn’t have to turn south to find inspiration for ‘a better tomorrow’. Good on you Obama - keep rocking out and we’ll keep following. You’ve got every kid on campus chanting your name.. -Jonnie

p.s. he also has ringtones

what do YOU want to do before you die?

Thanks to the great people at BRASS Magazine, The Buried Life can now cross #56 of our mutual list of 100 Things To Do Before You Die!!