My regular readers know that I really like Miniature Tigers. My daughter introduced me to them a few years ago and I’ve really embraced their sound, which has some hints of island sounds and tropical musical highlights.

In between mini tours, they have been hard at work on a new album and have recently released the details. It’s called “Mia Pharaoh” and it comes out on March 6th. Here’s the track listing:

1. Sex On The Regular
2. Female Doctor
3. Cleopatra
4. Afternoons With David Hockney
5. Easy As All That
6. Flower Door
7. Boomerang
8. Ugly Needs
9. Angel Bath
10. Husbands and Wives

Here’s the video to their lastest song “Female Doctor”

Last year, they released the single “Boomerang” which I played quite often and is officially released with this new album. It’s a wonderfully catchy song. And if “Female Doctor” sounds anything like the other 8 tracks on the album, this slightly more pop sound of this indie band will explode them into the mainstream this year.

So here’s my list of things I wished I would have done, in hindsight of course.

• Writing

I’ve had so many different opportunities to write in my life. And there has been quite a few of them that I’ve taken and they are a part of my life I cherish and remember. But in hindsight, I would have not stopped towards the end of 1995. I wished I would have kept up with the freelance work I was doing and venturing into my fictional works.

• Filming and movie making

As evidenced on this site by those who know of my videos I love to do, I’ve not done too many of them in 2010 and 2011. In hindsight, I should not have let the pressures of my day job and many, many other distractions I get multiple times a day, take me away from filming, editing and putting together even the silliest of videos.

• Giving my power away

A friend told me about 11 years ago that every time you let someone else control your life, you are giving your power away. A great piece of advice on how to live your life, which I have mostly ignored. Very similar to how I let other things distract me on a constant basis. But more along the lines of always doing what others ask of me and me almost always doing them. I don’t mind helping people, but I admit to being too nice and letting other take advantage of my time. In hindsight, I wished I had learned to politely say “NO” more often and kept my power over my life in many areas.

• Spent more time with my daughter

I do spend a good amount of time with my daughter, but there was a time during my divorce that I wished I would have spent more time with her. The many times I moved about and some of the darker times I experienced due to the lack of money and too many different substances I partook of. For the years of 2002 to 2006, I felt there wasn’t enough time I spent with her, which could have helped both of us. We have a good relationship now, but in hindsight, I think it could have been better.

• Had more video footage of my mom

Since the late 1980′s, I’ve had a video camera. And I’ve taken a ton of footage since then. But from what I remember, I don’t think I have a lot of footage of my mom. Now that she’s been gone for over 5 years, in hindsight, I wish I had more video footage of her. I look at the many photos I have and wish they could speak and move about.

• Exercising/Working out

Back in 2000, I joined Bally’s and worked out a lot. And up until about 2009, I found ways to stay active. My growing double chin and belly are two things I look at multiple times a day and I wish they would disappear. In hindsight, I should have continued working out and staying active. Especially since my yearly physical where my doctor told me that my blood sugar was a quite a bit higher than it should be. Now I add metFormin to my 2 pills I take daily for the next 3 months. I am using a treadmill several times a week, which is a good start. Maybe posting mostly naked pictures of me again will add to the motivation.

I may think of more, but those are the ones that I think of each and every day of my life. Not so much as a burden, but things that I really wished I had done that I want to be doing now or have memories of having done.

What things do you wish you had done, in hindsight?

So like planking and owling that came before it, coning (or cone-ing) is another stupid and dumb prank that mindless individuals have created to garner a few laughs on YouTube.

It involves ordering an ice cream cone from McDonald’s via the drive through and instead of grabbing it from the cone bottom, it gets grabbed from the top – the ice cream. Which creates a mess for the prankster and is intended to embarrass the employee and others that aren’t in on the prank.

Simply put, it’s just fucking dumb.

Now don’t get me wrong. I’ve done my share of pranks over the years and I’ve laughed when others get played. My favorite was to super glue a quarter to the ground and watch people try to pick it up. That’s classic for a prank.

This prank… not so much. Maybe I have to be younger to understand why it’s so funny. But even still, it seems rather pointless in so many ways. Watch the video above and see if it garners a laugh. Not a single one for this guy.

But it appears that not only is it catching on with other nitwits, those potential victims are being educated. Watch this coning prank get foiled by a smart and up-to-date manager.

PWNED! Ha ha… even the hot blonde gets set back. Eat your damn ice cream cone like everybody else not looking for their fail moment on the interwebs!

It’s time to just say no to these dumb pranks. I’m putting out a call out to bring back the classics… vaseline on door knobs, saran wrap on toilet seats, pennies jammed in doors and the afore mentioned quarter glued to the sidewalk. Let’s show the web newbies how’s it’s done.

And on that note, I’m going to go watch Jackass.

Looking forward to their new album on September 27, 2011.

Better late then never for Episode 5.

Let me tell you. It’s hot… really hot. Episode 5 of this season of Scooter Sunday is all new. Head over to ScooterSunday.com and catch the heat wave.

Vimeo version – UPDATING.

Nyan Cat is the latest graphical meme to hit the interwebs. It’s dumb, silly, nonsense fun watching a pop tart cat make the same motion. Then someone decided to pair it up with an equally mindless song and next thing you know, 20 million views on YouTube happens.

The Original Nyan Cat video meme mash up

Now that it’s popular, of course a copyright claim is going to happen. And BAM! Sunday night, it got pulled off YouTube.

As it turns out, Prguitarman didn’t issue the copyright claim. From his blog, he posted about how he was trying to prove to YouTube that the proper rights to use the song and video were valid.

And therein lies the issue here. YouTube, needing proof from the original copyright holder of something that was his, accepted a copyright claim from someone claiming to be this person. It seems things are a bit out of control at the helm of the “all things cats” video site.

While I am all about the person who owns the copyright getting their fare share (and any monetary dues), it seems the be ok that anyone can file a copyright claim and have a video pulled, but when it comes to the actual person who owns the copyright trying to get his/her work restored, they need a mountain of paperwork that needs to be submitted.

As of Tuesday, the original video is back and all seems to be ok for now. But this case just proves that something with online copyright management needs to change, and for the better.

About three weeks ago, I posted a review of several new albums, Foster The People’s “Torches” being one of them. For me, it’s an instant favorite and one of the best albums of 2011 (so far).

Acoustic

What cha lookin’ at, Willis?

So when I heard they were coming to town, I had to go. But imagine my excitement when they did two shows. That’s right… an acoustic in-store and a full set later in the evening at a local club.

part of “Pumped Up Kicks” acoustic

Signing for the fans

The acoustic show was held at the Taylorsville location of Graywhale Records. They played a short set of four songs (“Houdini”, “Helena Beat”, “Pumped Up Kicks” and “Don’t Stop”) to a crowd of about 60 or so fans. I even got to meet them and have them sign my ticket for the show later on.

Plugged In

Just a few hours later, the band made it’s way to the Urban Lounge for a full loud and plugged in set. This place was packed [it was a sold out show] and their set included their entire album plus a new song [didn't catch the name of it].

Jamming

Most of the songs were mixed a bit different. Lead band member Mark Foster switched from keyboard to guitar, all the while handling his lead vocal duties.

“I pity the fool that isn’t signing along with me”

Towards the end of the show, the crowd moved closer to the stage, wanting to take in all that Foster The People was giving. Musically, they sounded very good for this medium sized bar-turned-music-club.

If they come back around, I’ll go see them again for sure. Great energy, catchy songs and entertaining to their new found fan base.

We’ve gone small for Episode 4 of this season of Scooter Sunday. Head over to ScooterSunday.com and see why tiny is the new big.

Vimeo version – Click here.

For those of you that do not imbibe, try this link here.

Now for the rest of you, watch and learn.

YouTube version

Vimeo version

Mtn Dew Pitch Black with Vodka from Marty Mankins on Vimeo.

It’s fast, it’s speedy… it’s an all new episode (number 3) of Scooter Sunday. Head over to ScooterSunday.com and see what the action is all about.

Vimeo version – click here.

Music related, I honestly didn’t know of any songs that applied to today, but upon searching the vast web, I came across this happy little ditty by Dropkick Murphys. Enjoy and we’ll be back next week for more musical explorations.

Episode 2 of Season 4 is live. Head over to ScooterSunday.com for an all new episode.

Vimeo version – click here.

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