Top 5 MJ Songs You've Never Heard Of

So, it still hasn't quite set in yet, but Michael Jackson is gone. People can say whatever they want about his personal life (I think he was endlessly attacked and the target of numerous scandals for money), but I grew up on this man's music. He knew how to write and perform like none other. I honestly don't feel he will EVER be topped. There have been legendary bands, the biggest being The Beatles, but I think the death of MJ marked the death of the "world-wide phenomenon" musical acts. We'll never see an artist take over the world in the way that MJ did. So, in his honor, I've decided to end my drought of not posting and dedicate my first post back to the man himself.

Here's a list of MJ songs that you've probably never heard. These were either on one of his later CDs or never managed to make moves on the charts. You probably heard my #1 before, but it's just too good and under appreciated to NOT list here. I was going to list my top 5 only, but when I started to put the list together, I just couldn't leave some of these songs out. So, here's my top 10 MJ songs you've likely never heard.

Honorable Mentions:
10. Whatever Happens
9. Speechless
8. Invincible
7. Tabloid Junkie (awesome pre-chorus)
6. Money (again, amazing hook)

5. History
Everything about this song just screams "epic." Right from the beginning you know this song is meant to be powerful. The big trumpets start it off, followed by a cut in the music. Dates are spoken, then inspiring words and events are spoken about. You don't actually get to the music until about a minute into the song and the verses are rough. You can tell MJ is frustrated...it comes across in his voice. Then, in one of best transitions between verse and chorus, an amazing pre-chorus jumps in followed by a great chorus. It's all about securing your place in History. Go listen.

4. 2 Bad
Not sure why I like this track so much, but it's great. It sort of has a "Bad" feel to it, almost like a sequel track to the original. The beat hits a lot harder and MJ's singing is bit more aggressive. In addition, can you believe that Shaq spits a verse? That's right, Shaq the NBA player. I don't have much to say other than to check it out. HIStory, disc 2.

3. Don't Walk Away
I had to put a more sentimental song up here, and Don't Walk Away takes it. It's actually on the newest CD that MJ put out, Invincible. The beat is slowed down, simplified, and the singing is on point. It's probably one of only newer MJ songs that focuses more on vocals by drawing back the instrumental so much. It's such a passionate song too...you can hear the sadness in his voice. Falsetto thrown in here and there, but nothing overkill either. A great slow jam you've likely never heard.

2. Unbreakable
WOW, ok, so this almost made #1, simply because I guarantee almost 95% of people that have liked MJ's music have never heard this song. The beat is dope, and it was awesome to hear MJ talking about how no matter what happens to him, whether it be in the press, personal life, etc, he's unbreakable. Human spirit shining through and this track is powerful. Not only are the vocals great, so is the beat, and, get this, the guest verse is by Notorious BIG. Epic.

1. Scream
Ok, you've probably heard this, but it's definitely underrated by a long shot. A heavy hitting, aggressive track...and have you ever seen the music video? Wow, great. For some reason it never got the attention it deserved. I almost think it's one of those situations that his older music was so great, it was tough for people to latch onto one of his new songs and accept it as being just as good as his older stuff. I dunno, I love this song, and it's good for getting out some anger too.

Ok, well, that wraps it up. Hopefully you'll scour the Internet, find these tracks and enjoy a few of them. Let me know.

Things that may or may not have happened in Cincinnati (to me or those around me).

So I lived in Cincinnati for 6 months, which produced a good number of solid memories. I felt the need to document them here for your reading enjoyment. The list is in no particular order.

The following things may or may not have happened in Cincinnati:

- Almost crashing into another car while driving under 5mph.
- An in-depth cab conversation about religion
- An obsessive iPhone search for a song that doesn't exist in Rock Band
- Crawling under a fence, getting covered in gravel juice, waking up covered in said juice
- Remaining motionless, under a blanket, watching the Office for 4 hours
- Witnessing what might be the worst Grammy's ever
- Having more garbage than food at any given time
- Buying drinks all night and having a tab of $8.50
- Leaving a credit card open at a bar and returning to claim it two weeks later
- An in-depth cab conversation about gun control
- Climbing three flights of stairs to check an apartment that looked "vacant"
- The creation of an alter-ego called "Tranquilized Randy."
- Walking into a national cheerleader competition on accident
- Calling out a Gold Starr employee on hiding a deal from her customers
- Breaking piece of a fence / cutting one's leg on the same said fence
- Spending upwards of 3 hours driving to piece together a surround sound system
- Sprinting in the freezing cold to the point where you think you're going to throw up
- Watching a Discovery Channel that had CGI werewolves
- Going to a club and having a real "dance battle" on the dance floor...to the point where the club cleared half of the floor to witness epicness
- Getting c-blocked on the dance floor
- Paying $10 to get into a club, taking one lap around the place and then leaving
- Purchasing an over-sized American flag from CIRCUIT CITY.
- Hording 32890154 plastic bags

Top 10 Things To Do On Xbox Live

So after making Xbox Live one of my main hobbies a friend and myself decided to randomly make a list of the Top 10 things you can do online. Believe it or not, playing against real people over the Internet and blowing them to bits can be a blast. If you've played on Xbox Live and you don't suck, you've probably experienced the thrill of at least some of things. If you've never gotten a chance to play, but might consider it, this is what you can look forward to.

10) Toasting someone via vehicle kill.
- Although I'm not the biggest fan of vehicles in multiplayer online matches, I gotta admit that seeing someone go squishy underneath your tires is pretty sweet.

9) Multiple kills with single shot
- Even though my personal favorite is the Boomshot in Gears of War, the Rocket Laucher in Halo 3, or even a sniper in Call of Duty will get the job done. When you pull the trigger and watch two opponents fall, you know those guys are filled with shame.

8) Curb-Stomping
- Yes, I'm sure you might recognize this horrible act from American History X...but it's translation into Gears of War makes for an amazing finishing move. After downing an opponent, run over, slam your boot through their dome, and ask em "How's it taste?"

7) The Two-Piece
- Unique to Gears of War, the Two-Piece might be one of the most fun ways to destroy your opponent. Essentially, you run over to your enemy, melee them, and while they are stunned, blow them away with your shotgun. They normally explode into a bunch of pieces. Honorable mention also goes to the shotty in Halo 3 and Call of Duty 4.

6) Planted Claymores or Grenades
- First seen in Call of Duty, the planted claymore essentially is a small trap for all opponents. Normally placed around the corner or at the top of stairs, when a player enters a certain proximity, they will go boom before they knew what hit them. Recently included in Gears of War 2, the grenades does the same deed, but is slightly messier. Doesn't get much better than standing at a distance watching an enemy barrel toward you, only to explode into pieces.

5) Sniping
- Although I'm against camping, being a sniper and popping off domes is amazing fun. Numerous headshots in succession will do nothing short of bring a smile to your face. There are two great parts about sniping. One is the fact that your opponent usually has no clue it's about to happen, and two, you know it involved some skill to get the job done. Once again, Gears does it best I feel.

4) Tea Bagging / Gloating Tactics
- Yes, it may be a little childish, a little boastful, but sometimes it just needs to be done. Say, for instance, an opponents is continually running their mouth before a game. In this case, it's perfectly acceptable to give them a sound tea-bagging after you kill them in-game. In Gears of War you can go the humping route when your opponent is downed, or the wall hump when you pick them up. Just be cautious of the extended humping sessions...remember sometimes your opponent can get back up.

3) Knifing / Assassination
- Few things are more gratifying than running up to an opponent and knifing them or smacking them in the back of the head. Actually, what is better, is finding a room of campers in Call of Duty, and knifing all of them before they even know anyone entered the room. That'll teach you to camp!

2) Misery Loves Company
- Started in Call of Duty 4, Misery Loves Company is a challenge to hold a grenade until it explodes but then take an enemy down with you. Basically a suicide bomber-type tactic. Usually the other team doesn't know you are there, or are shocked to find you not attempting to kill them by traditional means, only to explode seconds later. One of the best all-time moments on Xbox Live was a triple kill Misery Loves Company done by one of my buddies. Aaaannd boom goes the dynaaamite.

1) Sticking
- First appearing in the Halo series, sticking refers to any action or weapon that can be stuck to an opponent that will explode seconds later. In Halo, you have sticky grenades. Once thrown and stuck to an oppoent, they'll hear a slight charaging noise followed by their death. In Gears, there are grenades, which after stuck will beep before explosion, as well as the torque bow, which simply makes the memorable "ffffffink!" noise before blowing it's victim to millions of pieces. I love me some sticking.

So there you have it. The Top 10 things to go on Xbox Live. You agree with the list? Disagree? Just want to comment? Let me know what you think.

Peace,
B Best

Traffic reports....are worthless.

Ok ok, I know. I said about a month ago that I would be posting more, but gosh dang I'm just so terrible at this. I'll work on it, I swear. I have a ton of things bouncing around in my brain to write about, I just need to take the time to post! Ok, so, here we go.

Let's make a factual statement. Not a statement that is filled with my opinion, but rather a statement that reflects nothing but the entire truth and everything that the truth stands for. "Traffic reports are worthless." There you go, I said it. If you think otherwise, please feel free to comment and let the hate for me that resides in your heart out. I'd like to hear it. Of course I'm not going to make such a claim and let it lie dormant on your screen. I present my reasons that simply can't be argued. Note that I'm referring to radio traffic reports.

1) Traffic reports aren't on demand. They are given whenever the radio station feels like it. Say for instance you want to try and prove that they are worth something. You'll have to start by either staying at work or sitting in your car in the parking lot waiting for it to come on. Go ahead and try to disprove my statement. Have fun with that.

2) Traffic reports tell you what you already know. Unless you manage to solve the problem presented in #1, by the time you hear the traffic report, you are sitting in the dead center of a 7580234827 car pileup. A traffic report will do nothing more than add to your frustrations by informing you that you're currently in the center of a huge traffic jam. Thanks for the info.

3) Let's for a minute imagine you were to solve #1. You find out the highway you take home is jammed. Well, the issue now is that's the only way you go home. Sure, you could take some estranged backroads, but by the time you do that, you might as well have sat in the traffic. I'm saying that if there is no viable detour, the very best a traffic report can do is prepare you for becoming irritated.

4) You live in Cincinnati. In this case, every traffic report informs you that every major highway is jammed. Oh, I've sat in my car, in the parking lot, waiting to hear that I-71, I-75, and I-275 are all jammed! Great, well, I guess I'll choose my route based on scenery, because I'll be looking at it for a loooong time. Gr8.

If traffic reports have EVER done you ANY good. Please let me know. I would really like some justification for giving the traffic reporters any monetary compensation whatsoever.

Till soon,
B Best