We Will Rock You In Da Club

I know, I know, mashups are so 2002. But ever since I heard "The Best Bootlegs in the World Ever", which featured The Freelance Hellraiser's masterful blending of Christina Aguilera and the Strokes in "A Stroke of Genius", I couldn't get enough.

The latest to tickle my ear comes via the great Stereogum: "Q-Unit", an unholy music alliance between 50 Cent and Queen.

"Bohemian Wanksta"?! Sold!

For an exhaustive aural history of mashups, listen to "Raiding the 20th Century", a 70mb MP3 by DJ Food that seamlessly cobbles together the best tracks to come out of the mashup phenomenon. Keep an ear out for "A Stroke of Genius" in part 5.

Other notable mashups:

Kelis vs. C&C Music Factory - "Gonna Make You Sweat to Milkshake" (sample)

Gwen Stefani vs. The Clash - "Radio Hollaback"

Carly Simon vs. Everything But the Girl - "You're So Missing" by DJ Reset

The best non-feud of 2005

You may have heard about hostilities between Borat Sagdiyev and his native country of Kazakhstan that flared up following Borat's memorable gig hosting the 2005 MTV European Music Awards in Lisbon last month.

Borat has issued a response to Kazakh Foreign Ministry Spokesman Yerzhan Ashykbayev's scathing rebuke following the awards, disavowing himself from Sacha Baron Cohen and fully supporting Kazakhstan's desire to "sue [that] Jew". Meanwhile, the Kazakh tourism board has shelled out for a 4-page ad in the New York Times proclaiming the virtues of "Kazakhstan in the 21st Century".

Can't wait to see who fires next.

Hear IS wat Thay Say [via Screenhead]
Take That, Borat [via Editor and Publisher]

Wednesday: Y2Khai Live?

John Patrick Foshe, the young white man who may or may not be SFV Asian Internet gangster rapper Y2Khai, will play a show in Pasadena, Wed. 11/16/05 . Don't forget to hit Arby's for a Big Montana before the show!

Link

Online L.A. Traffic System Report

The Center for Land Use Interpretation in Culver City has a fantastic online exhibition exploring the traffic control system in L.A. Among other things, it discusses the 50,000 "inductive loops" embedded in the streets that use the changes in magnetic fields caused by the presence of vehicles to manage traffic flow.

Link: Loop Feedback Loop

Saturday: Fun with Scientology

Curious about the Church of Scientology? The International Association of Scientologists is celebrating its anniversary! Sherman Way went to the blowout anniversary party last week. It was about three (3) hours of relentless attacks on psychiatry and "rundowns" on the Church's gains in the past year. Many new churches built, millions of books sold, case gains made, etc. Awards were given for Scientologists who brought democracy to Ukraine and peace to Venezuela. Each award winner, in addition to a fancy medallion, was given the chance to shake hands with Tom Cruise. Cruise's squeeze Katie Holmes is seen looking dazed and amazed, steadfast next to the man. They are flanked by luminaries like Anne Archer, Isaac Hayes, and the Travoltas. The program started off with a 45 minute marching bagpipe show. It is being replayed tonight. All are welcome:

Saturday, Nov. 12, 2005
6:30 PM
Scientology HQ
6331 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 960-3550

Welcome to Sherman Way

We hope be a destination for all things Valley; a San Fernando Valley version of the Wall Street Journal, so to speak, shining a bright beacon from Ventura Boulevard to the Ronald Reagan Freeway. There is a wealth of untapped culture and folkways that the blogosphere has not touched upon until now; Sherman Way will change that.

Being that there is no real newspaper that serves our beloved home (you heard that right, Daily News), we will provide our fellow citizens with hard hitting investigative journalism, cultural tips and tricks, and general Valley goodness.

Watch this space in the next few weeks and months, and say hello to your new daily destination.