The Obsession with Ms. Hilton

Apparently, everyone today has decided to mentally shut down and talk about Paris Hilton all day. There I said it. Are you happy, world? I used her name.

That done, I've been reading bits from the interview the dead one gave to Larry King last night. All I essentially have to say is that she pretty much confirmed what I thought: the interview was going to be worth less than the tape is was recorded on. She's about as charismatic as a boulder and three times less articulate. Also, just for reference, if you spend a bunch of time saying you read a book and can't recall anything from it, you probably should take a remedial reading class at your local Adult Learning Center.

I'm not saying that I can recall bible verses from memory, but I also don't call myself a christian or have purported to have read the bible for the past three weeks. The last times I read the bible, I was about to smoke up. The time before that, when I actually focused on reading it: I was 13. I'm going on 23. I have an excuse for not recalling things from the bible. She doesn't, especially for someone who has found her new spirituality in Christ.

Additionally, she said that she did not do drugs. While I don't consider marijuana a drug, I would say that using marijuana to most people is using drugs. It will keep you from getting employed, so that's a drug in the public sense of the word. I would also saying that you get fucked in the butt for coke is a pretty reasonable self-incrimination for a cocaine habit. There is no can of Coca-Cola in the world that taste that good. Also, screaming let's get coked up is normally not a good example either. But, you are one of those people who needs proof. Here. At around minute four is your freakin' proof.

It's OK if people are ashamed of their past. But, one cannot lie about it when you are as closely followed as the dead one is. She, with this interview, has only solidified why she is a terrible role model for the youth and is reviled by so many different people. But, then again, why am I even surprised by this? Was I expecting her to be more mature and grown-up? She's 26 and has marketed herself as a party girl with little other talent. I'm actually going to end this here because I'm disappointed with myself for spending so much time on this.

The Minstrelcy of Alpha Sigma Delta*

A while ago, I commented on a phenomenon that was sweeping across campuses of America: racially offensive parties. These would be celebrations of ghetto life or the Latino experience in America. I use the celebrations in the lightest sense possible, as should be recognized from the context of the paragraph.

At these parties, white kids show up in what amount to caricatures of the racial groups of America. Tim Wise, over at the Black Agenda Report, comments on the phenomenon further. For the record, he is a white guy who is offended by the phenomenon, but he blames the problem on something larger than the fact that these kids who find this acceptable are idiots, as proven by the following quote:

[C]onsider the internet posting of a University of Texas law student, who didn't participate in last year's "ghetto fabulous" party, but who found more fault with those critiquing it, than those who threw it in the first place:

"Get over it. You were offended. You complained...Prolonging the drama only makes you look like attention whores - you aren't trying to educate people, and you aren't trying to create an atmosphere of inclusion, where people can understand your point of view. You want to continue to spank the naughty 1Ls. The Dean gave you recognition. Everyone in the law school received that email. Do you honestly think that prolonging the drama is going to do anything productive?

And for the record, equating ghetto fabulous with blackface is really fucking stupid."

Wise actually blames the colleges and society for not discussing the power relations that exist between groups more than the fact that we have all been taught for years now that we are equal. The ghetto is not just some space where a lot of people have chosen to live. It is a prison created by society, infested with predatory people trying to juice the neighborhood of its vitality and soul.

It's a compelling read, something that all of the kids who think that painting yourself black and mocking Black culture or dressing like a Latin maid is amusing.

*Alpha Sigma Delta is the first string of greek letters I could come up with. I was trying to spell out ass, but it wasn't going to work because sigma is an Σ. Additionally, I reference the greeks because this is the primary places where these parties are happening. I expressly note at this time that this is not meant to be a slap at the more responsible greek organizations who actually maintain high standards and help to further a community of togetherness, as antithetical as that may be to the actual mission of a fraternity or sorority given the need for members to satisfy an ideal rather than express a straight sense of independence and defiance. And, yes, that was a slap at greek life, but not for blackface, but for being breeding grounds of conformity. While there is the argument that brotherhood is not conformity, is there not a sense of conformity required to become a member of that brotherhood? A conformity to the traditions and institutions of that fraternity? By accepting the principles and wants of the fraternity/sorority as well as suffering through rushing (they aren't as rough as they used to be, but it is still presenting a willingness to subscribe to the principles of the greek organization), aren't I not quite blatantly ascribing to a set of principles? The last time I checked, that's conforming ergo joining a greek organization requires conformity.

She Speaks For Herself

This is why she's dead to me:

"I think the crime did not fit the punishment. I don't feel like I deserved to go to jail,"

From The British Broadcasting Corporation's News Service.

Congratulations America!

We are living in the midst of history now. With the failure of another cornerstone piece of legislation for the Bush administration due to the infighting in Congress, President Bush now is going to go down in history as the worst president in American history. Worse than Buchanan who watched the country walk into a Civil War, making no effort to stop it. Worse than the Teapot Dome Scandal and Ohio Gang of Harding. Worse than Fillmore making searching for slaves in Northern states legal by signing the Fugitive Slave Act in 1850. Even worse than Tricky Dick with his paranoia and the fiasco that was Watergate.

And, the worst part of it all, Bush has well over a year and a half left in the office. This means he'll have more ways to blow it like he already has. Maybe he will actually accomplish something or someone will relieve us of this misery and remove him from office.

Sitting on the Virtual Can

Since I had to go to an interview this afternoon, I had to reorganize my day. This led to me being unable to actually complete my 5 A Day project for today. So that will not be posted today. It will be back up and running tomorrow. Instead, I will comment on a couple of things that are running through my mind.

I have been thinking about Radiohead for the last couple of days. Don't get excited or anything. I actually don't particularly care for Radiohead. The only thing that I can consistently think about from Radiohead is the fuzzy noise ending for Karma Police. I don't like the rest of the song, and listening to a song that I particularly liked from them in high school Just has only reminded me of one fact: Radiohead is completely overrated. Some of their songs aren't bad. I'm not stupid enough to say something that callous. But, I will say that they are given an unnecessarily high position in the pantheon of rock music, especially for a band that has been consistently inconsistent in its recorded work. Consistency aside, they play glorified arena rock. There's nothing particularly special about it. U2 played the same stuff and did it better. Mysterious Ways, when not done by Legion of Rock Stars, is way better than Just or High and Dry or Karma Police, which are the better songs of Radiohead's oeuvre. If you are a Radiohead fanatic, that's cool. I like U2. We both like shitty 90s alt-rock. That's really OK, as long as we both know that Beck own both bands' asses.

When I wasn't thinking about Radiohead, I was thinking about an article that I read from Eurozine about the shopping mall as a replacement for the city center. To regain those people, the city center has become a commodity zone within itself. Good examples of this sanitation are N. Michigan Ave. in Chicago, Chinatown in D.C., Lower Manhattan. These areas are areas of bombardment. Logos and corporate sterility abound while jostling through the hordes of young professionals and tourists who are shopping in stores that they, most likely, can browse in their own hometowns. This reality is best shown in the following quote from the article:

City centres are where the global power brands position their "flagship stores", which are not only the temples of the brand image, but also their site of production. The global luxury brands must be present in the most expensive districts, since that's precisely what makes them global luxury brands. No main street without the ubiquitous Kenzo, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and Dior boutiques. Not only are city centres the areas where brands are present, they themselves become brand zones – competing internationally for tourists and investors, the cities must themselves become brands with an unmistakeable brand image, brand statements of steel, glass, concrete, or stone – and sometimes also flesh and blood. Of course, people are only tolerated in so far as they are paying visitors or local extras that harmonize with the image of the brand zone. Loiterers are moved on.

This rings true with me, at least, because I remember when D.C.'s Chinatown was actually a Chinese neighborhood. It was never a good Chinese neighborhood, but it did at least feel like a Chinese neighborhood with mostly chinese stores fronts, not names translated into Chinese. Now, it's almost impossible to find the restaurants and it is all generic brand restaurants and stores. You know that an area is on the come-up when it gets its own Urban Outfitters and TWO burrito places. This reality is a sad one, as I do like cities that have city aspects to them. The downtown is still populated with local color and stores. This might scare away tourism, but it also gives cities a soul that is lost in this new era of hypercommercialism. I guess this is why I also prefer the outer edges of cities much more than downtown areas because these areas are defined by people, not consumerism.

If having all of this on your mind along with trying to consider whether or not you want to hold a job hawking cell phones wasn't enough, I was also thinking about a topic close to my heart: hating. This thought was inspired by my watching of Wimbledon. Yes, I do like tennis. The summer is the best time for it because I had the French Open a couple weeks ago. Now, I get Wimbledon. I get about a month and a half off then I get the U.S. Open. In the meantime, I can watch how the rest of the world plays football better than the Americans. I'll go into that in a second, but let me continue on with how tennis relates to hating.

Tennis is a hater's sport for commentating. It's way too easy to hate in tennis commentary. This ideal is exemplified by Mary Carillo. She's a fantastic commentator, but she's also a consummate hater. Any opportunity for praise also an opportunity for hate. And that's where Carillo shines. She can celebrate, but she keeps folks in line like a true hater should. Carillo's consummate hating got me thinking about other people who are consummate haters. TV Judges on reality shows or on those court shows are not allowed. They have to hate. Real hating is unprovoked. Mika Brzezinski displayed some hate as a journalist by refusing to read the stories about the dead one. But that is only one instance. I need to see more consistent hating before I call her a consummate hater. I'm really struggling with this right now. I've got only sports commentators going in my head right now: Bill Walton, Mary Carillo, Jonny Miller (and I don't even like golf). The only classifications to be considered a consummate hater are a complete and ruthless need to always critique. Compliments are appreciated as always, but a consummate hater must be ruthlessly critical when the time arises. If you have any suggestions, I'd appreciate a rationale to go along just to understand, especially if I'm not familiar with the person.

I think that is all that I had on my mind for now. I will leave with a classic of the Bay Area before it went hyphy: Rappin-4-Tay's Players Club



Also, German girl rockers The Liverbirds with Peanut Butter



I am off the can.

Too Chewy

Fox News:

Starburst Fruit Chews are exactly as their name would indicate: chewy. But one Michigan woman says the candies are so chewy, they should come with a warning label.

Victoria McArthur, of Romero, Mich., is suing Starbursts' parent company, Mars Inc., for more than $25,000 for "permanent personal injuries" she claims she sustained after biting into one of their yellow candy in 2005.

"I don't know, maybe about 3 chews and it literally locked my jaw … and it just literally pulled my jaw out of joint," she told MyFoxDetroit.com.

I don't need to say anything more. I really don't. This woman has made more than enough of an ass out of herself.

The Splasher, Abridged

In New York City, there is a very vibrant street art scene. But, some have become disillusioned with the fact that the art world is trying to commercialize this very organic and anarchic art form. Instead of dialogue, these someones have decided to take the issue into their own hands. This person is known as the Splasher.

The Splasher goes through the city and splashes on other people's art with a spiel of avant-garde art rhetoric pasted with it. The battle is interesting, and, while I'm sad to see the work that is being damaged go down, I have to say the new works are really interesting. It's sort of like SAMO (Basquiat's old tag questioning the nature of graffiti and society) but not like the shitty tags thrown up by CAP in Style Wars. The replacement is very interesting and a stunningly effective critique of the street art work that is now destroyed. A lot of the work destroyed is very generic street art; the splashing leads one to question the original art on its merits, as hard as that may seem.

Unfortunately, like every art movement that calls itself avant-garde like the Futurists, it has a manifesto. Gothamist has posted excerpts for everyone else who doesn't have the time to read a ridiculously verbose statement about the nature of art and the splasher's action or want to cop a copy of it. It's really, really ridiculous. I can't summarize it because it's unsummarizable. Gothamist did the best they could, but it's really challenging to compress anarchist ideals about art. Anarchist ideals are confounding to begin with; summarizing them is even harder. So, make up your own mind, but I think that anything that shakes up the stagnant art world is always an advancement. When a street artist is getting patronage from Angelina Jolie, the movement is in dire need of a shake-up. The Splasher is providing this, and I have to respect that as a fan for the advancement of art as a form.

Television: A Personal Appeal

The United States Congress has had a great interest in protecting the youth of America from the brutality of modern television programming, with its simulated violence and sex. Yesterday, the Senate Commerce Committee investigated the effect of media violence on children. My senator Jay Rockefeller feels that it is necessary for the government to step in and defend children. His rationale is reported as such:

Big Media companies are putting more emphasis on profits than the well-being of kids, he said, while hiding behind ineffective Band-Aids of voluntary action. Rockefeller said he expected broadcasters to argue for parental responsibility and content-control tools, which they did, but said that has not worked and the government was going to need to step in. He didn't seem to have a lot of takers on the committee.

Rockefeller also called the $300 million TV Boss ratings/V-chip education campaign that had been spearheaded by the late Jack Valenti "farcical" and a joke.

Rockefeller called the industry "cowardly" for putting the onus on parents to control their kids TV viewing, saying it was not always possible. Then, saying he wasn't sure if his colleagues knew how violent TV had become, aired a video montage--put together by the Parents Television Council--to demonstrate.

It was that video, which included a now-famous forced oral sex scene from FX's The Shield, that prompted the legislators to register their general disgust. The video was cut short after Rockefeller and company appeared to have had their fill.

I have to say, as someone who has grown up during this oh-so-violent time on television, that my senator is completely wrong on this issue. Firstly, as the rest of the article notes, no one actually agrees with Rockefeller. Democratic colleagues like Frank Lautenberg have no interest in censoring television. Like the Republicans, everyone knows that this reeks of Big Brother. Regulating television is a complete overstepping of governmental boundaries. The government does not have the right to tell me what is appropriate and what is not.

Now, with that said, forced oral sex on television is a bit over the top. But, as with all of FX's night programming, it is all lead off with very explicit warnings telling the viewer what the show contains and to display discretion. Discretion is the key word here. Good parents make the effort to watch television with their kids by not putting a television in their room and placing the television in a centralized spot. Such incidents are not unusual. In fact, they are quite the norm. If this is not possible, parents take care to look at what their kids are watching. If you don't want your kids to watch the show, you will turn the channel or explain to them that they can watch it when they get older. But, this is a game-time decision. Some kids are able to handle the violence. Others cannot.

From a personal standpoint and as someone who watched a lot of ridiculously adult programming at an inappropriate age (I saw License to Kill when I was eight, and I watched Oz in its original airing), the connection between violence and television is very much overblown. It is not real. It is a fantasy, a non-realistic presentation of day to day life. Shows that are reality programs that aren't game shows or news-based programs are just as fake. The fact that people who watch television and can't tell the difference should be greatly concerned. I was always able to tell the difference. I didn't think that I should do what I saw because it was illegal and pretty dumb. Also, I wasn't really trying to shank a bitch. My state aside, I don't think that the free speech allowed to broadcasters should be restricted. The Shield, when not forcing oral sex, is a very interesting program that should not be silenced because some stiff old guy has a problem with it. What will be silenced next? Will they start regulating authors? Will hip-hop no longer be allowed on the radio? Will they stop Barry White? I hope that you can see what I'm getting at here...

The fact that people are doing what they see on television aside from trying to construct something from The New Yankee Workshop or cook something from Barefoot Contessa is what the real problem is. Those people need to be studied to understand why they think it is a good idea to go and set things on fire or push their friends in shopping carts into curbs so the person falls out. If these kids are so desperate to do something, they really should try to build something from The New Yankee Workshop. Have you seen that show? There's so much work involved. Those restless kids will be busy for days!

Another to the Dead Wave

MSNBC Anchor Mika Brzezinski is also fed up with the Dead One. I'm amazed that I actually woke up to watch Morning Joe, which I hate to say is actually really amusing and moderately informative. While I'm not a huge Scarborough fan, I will give him credit for at least being even, giving everyone an equal shot at explaining themselves. Anyway, I refer you to Brzezinski because she made a few symbolic gestures during the show. Watch!

I wanted to post about this when she actually got out because I saw it when it happened, but I had to wait for the video to turn up first.

She's Not Only Dead To Me

The Dead One is now dead to Us Weekly as well. The wave is slowly growing. Soon, she will have to actually do something to get press aside from lounge out in prison for three weeks.

The Science of Homosexuality

In the past few weeks, gay people have become targets again. But, not in the way you might figure. Gays and lesbians are not becoming targets of violence, although that is still a huge problem within some societies (Jamaica, you're on notice). In the past weeks, people of the same-sex persuasion have been targeted by science to solve the eternal question of nature versus nuture.

If you are from a tolerant community, you may be asking yourself what this whole argument is actually about. The basis of this argument is, essentially, a left vs. right argument with gays stuck in the middle. The left, for years, has argued that homosexuality is something that you are born with; that it is a genetic trait which was assigned to the person at a young age. The right argues that homosexuality is unnatural; that it is a life choice made by people. So, to solve this argument, both sides have turned to the irrefutable form that is scientific research.

New York ran an article detailing many of the details that they have found to correlate to preferring the same sex. This article points out small details such as 50+% of gay people tend to be left handed and gay men have more feminine hands, which means that their index finger is the same length or longer than their ring finger. These might be coincidental, but they could also be facts. No one is really sure yet.

In addition, CNN has run an article about research done by a graduate student at Northwestern University about the gait of gays versus straights (If you go to the article, you can take the visual test and see how good your gaydar is. Mine's pretty strong, but I did mix up the straight woman and the gay man). All of this research is being done to see if there is the presence of something in our genetic make-up that determines whether or not someone can be born gay.

While I do appreciate and understand the work, I have to make a simple statement: so what? I know that the scientists are doing the natural thing by exploring the unknown, but I don't understand how this will solve the problem of gay people being killed by people who are intolerant of them. Gays and lesbians should be fully accepted in our society regardless of whether they chose to be gay or were born gay. Gays make fruitful contributions to our society. They serve in the highest bodies of legislation. They are at the forefront of arts and culture. They add to the business culture of the world as well. Essentially, they are just fine whether it is genetic or cultural. There is no need for them to be poked and prodded to shut up a group who refuses to let them exist in peace.

R.I.P.

Liz Claiborne has died. She was 78. She brought fashion to the masses through her reasonably priced designs. While she's not Lagerfeld or Chanel, she did change the world of fashion for the positive. Her presence will be missed immensely, although her name will live on.

5 A Day: Day Seven

I've noticed that many of my reviews have been overly positive. I swear to you that I haven't listened to most of these albums before. These reviews are from first impressions and nothing else. Also, I took the time to type everything out today! Alright, here we go...

Stereo Total - Monokini

Stereo Total is a multinational coalition of pop fans. As their multiple backgrounds would suggest, the lyrics alternate between many languages, primarily French, English, and German. I only have a slight grasp of two of those languages (english being one), so some of the songs are completely incomprehensible to me.

Regardless of lyrics, this album is actually really fun. The rhythms alternate between punk speed and slower electro-pop, dance songs and ballads. Stereo Total is coming from everywhere across this album and this made it for me an exciting listen; I never really knew where they were going to go next. The first three tracks are a good example of this. The first song sounds like Kraftwerk. Then Kraftwerk changes into a song that reminiscent of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Then the next song recalls the sound of Serge Gainsbourg. And this isn't it. Monokini goes into French lounge singing, bossa nova, but the overriding groove is definitely electro-pop across the album.

In the end, Monokini is a great album because, while it does reference all of those sounds, it makes it sound like its own. After some initial spastics, the band settled down and found their their sound. The sound is still conflicted a bit, but, overall, it's pretty much an awesome sound. I would like a more coherent vision, but I do really like what I heard on this album.

The Ponys - Turn The Lights Out

The Ponys are a Chicago-based band that has been getting a lot of ink spilled about them due to their recent signing to the indie major label of Matador. From the onset, the sound is a bit shoegaze-y but not overwhelmingly so. It's definitely there, but it's infused with an early, post-punk Cure sound. Their lyrics aren't that heavy, but the heavy reverb and guitar interplay of those early Cure albums is definitely there. The rhythm section is perfect. The bass and drums are solid but don't really get in the way of the whole listening experience. Listening to the bass is like listening to Tina Weymouth on Talking Heads albums.

The bass is clearly there as a sonic foundation, but it doesn't get in the way of the overall sound. The bass playing is interesting to listen to and holds the song together with the drums while the guitars go flying all over the place on their solos. As chaotic and/or boring as that all sounds, that's exactly how a good band should sound. There should be a base that the guitars can jump to and off of at leisure.

This album grabs from the beginning and doesn't let go. The slowdown tracks are well placed and do not ruin the flow. The sound is always changing yet very consistent, showing that The Ponys have a fantastic understanding of their own sound. The lyrics are actually very good as well, if not slightly insignificant. The technical aspects of the album are amazingly well-done. The instrumentation is strong and the production accentuates the artists instead of overpowering them or muting them. There are no rough edges in the production; everything has its space. A thoroughly compelling listen. I was actually shocked when the album ended; I wanted it to keep going, even after 40 minutes. I listened to this album again in my car, and it was just as compelling. Turn the Lights Out is definitely a repeat listening album with each time being as satisfying as the last.


Peter, Bjorn & John - S/T

This is a Swedish trio that has been getting a lot of press due to the hit song on their most recent album Writer's Block called Young Folks. You probably know it as it has a whistling bridge between the chorus back into the verse and was featuring in Grey's Anatomy. This album is an earlier production from the band from 2002.

If you expect to hear the same sort of coy sing-along songs that are on Writer's Block, the first song on the eponymous album will shake you of that expectation quite briskly. I don't know what I want us to do starts with a blast. A rollicking organ line compliments the frazzled lyrics and the breakneck pace of the song. But, album soon finds its groove and becomes more reminiscent of the country that bred the trio: Sweden.

The album takes on a lot of the aspects of the Swedish pop scene that is populated by amazing bands like The Legends, Acid House Kings, and the ever popular Cardigans. Peter, Bjorn, and John is sweet and coy, but is not saccharine sweet; there is still a bittersweet tone. And the lyrics maintain a sad optimism that is very pleasant to listen to. Their sound changes from E6 positive to Legends-style power pop to Acid House Kings melancholic across the album. Regardless of what they do, these boys charm throughout the album with their consistent pop sound that knows how to rock and write a ballad while putting it over a catchy beat.

While this is their first entrance into the field, Peter, Bjorn, and John definitely makes them a band of note, someone who has been on their game since the beginning. The eponymous album of Peter Bjorn and John reminds us that Young Folks isn't a fluke; this band is actually amazingly good and should be the hero of anyone who calls themselves a fan of indie music. They aren't my heroes, but they would be if I had heroes.

Stereolab - The Groop Played "Space Age Bachelor Pad Music"

Stereolab is one of the more vaunted indie bands of recent history. Prolific in output and unique in sound, Stereolab has fans amongst experimental listeners, straight ahead pop fans, rockers, and punks. Most everyone in the indie world has a certain soft spot for the kraut-based magic that is Stereolab. Additionally, the fact that they are whip smart doesn't hurt too much either, as they frequently infusing their lyrics with marxist politics.

The Groop...is more of an experimental album. The poppiness of later albums such as Dots and Loops and Emperor Tomato Ketchup is not to be found here. To begin discussing the record, it is important to note that the album is split into two parts.

The first part is very experimental and wandering, forgoing traditional pop structures. The second part is far closer to traditional Stereolab than the first half. The songs over the first half are not as lock groove as their better album work, but the songs do maintain a dreamy, futuristic, droning aesthetic. The second half does getting into the more traditional Stereolab sound, but not quite. It is still floating and more distant.

Without throwing any more adjectives around, The Groop... does sound like Space Age Bachelor Pad Music, like Stereolab sat in a room with Esquivel and Les Baxter albums and applied their sound to that aesthetic. The album overall is a good listen, but it is not a good place to start for someone who has no background with the band. This is an earlier release that could easier turn off a listener due to the fact it is a bit dreamy and not a good representation of the Stereolab experience. But, once a listener gets more acclimated with Stereolab, they should come back and explore this album fully. They will find it more satisfying that way.

Saint Etienne - Tiger Bay

Saint Etienne is a critic's band, primarily because they are made of critics. They know what they don't like and have created a band to satisfy not only them but other critics. Musically adventurous, Saint Etienne is known for cranking out good album after good album.

Tiger Bay is no exception. The ballads are beautiful. The beats are crisp and utterly danceable. And the songs tell the story of the mystical Tiger Bay, with travel and a story of a failed romance. You can see the story of the love between the two people rise and fall, the gossiping people, the beauty of the shore. This is an amazing album, further proof that Saint Etienne is one of the best indie acts of the 1990s (this album is from 1994).

The Blues Explosion is Number ONE!

I have been listening to the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion since I was around 13 or 14. They produced, without question, one of my favorite albums in Orange. While the title track is hot, this is the opener which is equally awesome, amazing, and explanatory of the entire JSBX project.

THE JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION 'Bellbottoms'

Why I Strongly Dislike/Hate PETA

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is a group that is very, very high on my shit list. Along with arguing for the rights of animals, which I think is a preposterous idea, they have a tendency of getting their nose in places it doesn't belong.

Today is a good example of this. MSNBC reported that PETA called out Michael Moore for being too fat to talk about health care in America. The leader of the organization said that Moore should switch to vegetarianism to lose weight and then maybe he would be suitable for PETA to talk about health care.

Firstly, he is overweight. But, this isn't a negative. If anything, this is a pro for Moore. He is someone who will most likely have to use the health care system anyway. So, why not let him stay at his current weight.

Secondly, this is why I have a vehement dislike, bordering hate, of vegetarians and vegans. I strongly dislike them because they try to hold this moral high ground over everyone else because they don't eat meat. That's fine. I could give two shits if you've decided to swap your hamburger for a gardenburger; that's not my concern. If anything, it's better for me as I can eat more meat. My problem comes with these very people chastising me and criticizing me for doing what I do. I don't tell you how to live your life; don't tell me how to live mine.

The same thing goes for Moore. He's living his life, trying to help the millions upon millions of people who don't have health insurance, and PETA's worried about how he looks. Along with being vain, it is distracting attention from the people who can benefit from the information contained in this movie. Thanks PETA. Thanks for nothing.

It's Still The Only Card I Need

BANG YOUR HEAD!

Smoke Weed!

Today, Slate has run an article about the inherent magic of the stoner movie. As someone who didn't always smoke weed, I can understand where the author is coming from. Additionally, it is actually a well-written article about the phenomenon, good reading that isn't too stressful on the weary mind.

Chubbs Revisited?

Editor's note: That title means nothing to you if you never saw Happy Gilmore, possibly the best Adam Sandler movie ever and not because of Bob Barker.

From CNN:

A man who lost his ball in a golf course pond nearly lost a limb when a nearly 11-foot alligator latched on to his arm and pulled him in the water, authorities said.

Bruce Burger, 50, was trying to retrieve his ball Monday from a pond on the sixth hole at the Lake Venice Golf Club.

Another reason for why golf courses, along with being huge environmental hazards and propagating classist and racist ideals, are a societal negative. Also, the gator had one eye. I had to post it. One-eyed gators!

Hot for Teacher*

Radar has a profile today of teachers who have slept with their students. While there is the moral apprehension that should come from sleeping with minors, there is something inherently less creepy about female teachers sleeping with male students. It's still gross that these women are praying on their students for tail, but a lot more of these relationships seem consensual. I'm not sure that really makes it better, but I will say this: most of these women are plainly attractive, maybe hot if you want to make that step. I can't imagine what would compel them to be attracted to these pubescent boys. But, to each his own...as long as it's OK with the Moral Majority.

*What? You thought I would leave and NOT make a Van Halen reference?

Why People Don't Snitch

From Yahoo! via Feministing:

PHOENIX - A woman had the word "snitch" burned into her face with a branding iron in apparent retaliation for helping police in a domestic violence case, authorities said.

The brand singed into her flesh during a June 13 attack is 4 to 6 inches long and stretches across her left cheek from lip to earlobe, Mesa police Sgt. Chuck Trapani said Friday.

This is unacceptable. The woman received the branding because she actually summoned the strength to come forwards and tell the police that she had been victim to a crime. Additionally, this story helps to elucidate a couple different points. The first being that this is why people in the hood don't snitch. I know, I should want to tell if I saw someone get gunned down, but, that's exactly why I wouldn't say anything. If I saw someone get gunned down, that means someone probably saw me, and, as proven by this story, we live in a world where revenge is always served with cruelty and indifference towards consequences. This means that I run a high risk of getting killed if I snitch by someone in the criminal's gang. And, while I do want to see crimes solved, I also would like to keep my life. This is the constant conundrum of snitching: do I want to solve a crime or do I want to live?

Slow Down, Young Man

From Yahoo!:

Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi said he can only open his mouth to make a gap the size of a fingertip after being diagnosed with jaw arthritis.

Takeru Kobayashi is one of the most recognized athletes from Japan. His sport is competitive eating. Yes, competitive eating is considered a sport. Not by this commentator, but by others. Kobayashi is, according to the article, the founder of an organization to change my mind. It hasn't really succeeded. It's offends me to watch people indulge in such blatant displays of gluttony. It offended me when I watch anything about ancient Rome, and those are fictionalizations. The horror of it all is only amplified when watching in reality like going through rich people's houses on MTV Cribs. But, my morbid fascination with Cribs will be explored separately.

While I do hope that Kobayashi does get better from his injury, I hope that he has learned an invaluable lesson from this whole incident: eating fast is really hazardous to your health!

5 A Day: Day Six

Yea, I'm mentally beat. I listened to five albums today: Sugababes - One Touch, Tindersticks - Curtains, Ultramagnetic MC's - Critical Beatdown, The Velvet Underground's Eponymous release, and Television - Marquee Moon.

I'll actually get back to typing posts again soon hopefully. But, I will note that these post-its are actually written like reviews and are comprehensible.

Clean My Mouth With Soap

So, today's unintentional goal was to offend as many people as possible. I think that I've accomplished that goal with great success since I suggested that the case against Bobby Cutts is a racial witch hunt due to the way it has been painted by the mainstream media to me. In addition, I also pointed out the hypocrisy of news coverage with regards to race and gender when it comes to public interest stories. I think I've really succeeded today in pissing the Internet off, but I only have technorati to blame for that by putting me at the front of the tag most of the day.

Also, while my comments could be considered offensive, some of the stuff posted on technorati makes my comments look like child's play. A lot of people are taking this opportunity to suggest that abortion is an immoral, improper concept because Cutts is being charged with double murder (In Ohio, the baby would have been able to survive outside of the body, classifying it as a human being. This is nothing close to actual abortion, but don't let the pro-life audience tell you that.). Now, contrast that against me saying that this may or may not be a race issue due to the portrayal of Cutts and tell me who is more evil?

While I'm still talking about this, can I please remind everyone that BOBBY CUTTS JR IS NOT GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW! Stop talking about him as if he is guilty. If he committed the crime, so be it, but don't make the assumption that he has yet. That is unfair to him and leaves the judicial system with little choices. His case must be heard fully before action is taken against him, as is dictated in the bill of rights (6th Amendment to be precise). The case against him is already unbalanced because of public opinion and oversensationalized reporting.

Just from reading technorati, it's clear that many will not be able to judge this case in an objective manner. As I was reading the other posts, it became clear that this is like the OJ Simpson case. We have a clear OJ situation here. This case will be a fiasco and set racial relations in America back years, especially if it turns up that Cutts really didn't do it (not like OJ. Black people were happy because OJ got one over on American justice, the system that fucks over the population everyday. Everyone knows he did that shit). Who would have thought that the actual pursual of justice would end up in negative effects.

I want to be crystal clear here. Absolutely clear. I could give two fucks if Cutts get death or walks. All I want is a fair trial. I want to see a case laid out by both sides and make a decision from there. I didn't put myself in debt to have ideas crammed down my throat by a public that thinks with its heart more often than its mind. With this comment, I have ended my one and only entrance into the field of public interest and missing white woman syndrome. Frankly, I'm disappointed with myself that I've spent so much time actually talking about this. So, from herein, this conversation is done here.

I Don't Have The Right Stuff

Late last night, I had a discussion with my friend Elana about something she saw on the train in Boston. She saw an ad for a new dating site. Big whoop there, but it was a big difference from other websites. The site "The Right Stuff" considers itself the Ivy League of Dating.

"The Right Stuff" maintains such a title by using elitist methods. For example, if you did not go to college, you are ineligible for the website. Period. You must be a graduate of a college. But, it does matter which college you went to. If you went to Party School, USA, you are ineligible. You had to of gone to a high-end college/university. Also, it is not enough to go to the college and tell them that you went to the college. Oh no. You have to provide proof that you went to the college. If you don't get emails from your alma mater, you have two options: sending a photocopy of your actual diploma or "The Right Stuff" can do a background check. That's really raw. In addition, you have to be straight to join their website since the site furthers ideas of heteronormativity. Your profile only goes to other women if you are a man and vice versa. I'm glad to think that my trailblazing college for individual rights is helping to further such patriarchal ideas.

If you decided that you want to go down this road and go through the lengthy application process, you are rewarded by being able to look through the around 5,000 profiles on the site. I've gone through the profiles. Some of them are genuinely sweet and interesting, people I would be interested in dating if they weren't as old as my mom. I don't mind older women, but I can't date my mom. I have to draw the line somewhere. But, I digress.

Other profiles were some of the most pretentious things that I've seen since some of the things that I was in college. But, to my benefit, they were howlingly funny even through the heavy layers of pretense. I'm not going to post them here because I can't bring you the full visuals that exist with some of these profiles (the sample profiles have accompanying pictures). They are best experienced in full on the website. I do recommend the gardeners, as they are actually very nice. Also, look at the pet lovers. For the love of the word, look at the pet owners. Also, if you need a good chuckle, the sample writing is terrible for people who have apparently been published multiple times. I'm not a professional, but I don't believe that some of these people actually are.

In the end, I have to say that if this is how my fellow alumni actually operate, I'm not sure I want to be affiliated with them. I'm honestly disturbed by the classism and elitism of this website.

Four Wars?

As many well know, America is involved in three current wars. There is the war against Iraq because Saddam Hussein was a threat to the American independence. There is also that war that no one remembers: the war against Afghanistan and al-Qaeda, the ORIGINAL al-Qaeda. Also, let us not forget that we are also involved in the larger war on terror, the one that has cut down on the freedoms of Americans and allowed the Bush administration to grow its britches too big due to the lack of oversight from the legislative branch.

But, news from the Guardian suggests that there may now be a FOURTH war that we will fight against...drumroll please!....VENEZUELA!!!! That is right, President Hugo Chavez has told the Venezuelan military to prepare for a possible guerrilla war against the United States. Speaking from a strictly military viewpoint, the Venezuelans stand a good chance of winning this war with the whole overextension of the American military across the globe fighting in an umbrella war against a shadow, non-existent subject in terror. Now, I don't want them to win primarily because I don't want there to be a fight on American soil. West Virginia is already a wasteland, a very pretty wasteland. I don't need it to become a post-industrial Mad Max-style wasteland. This war is going to SUCK if it actually happens.

yea..

apparently, I've started a maelstrom. I thought my point was something that everyone else was thinking about while watching the coverage of the Davis case. Maybe I am just a reactionary. I don't know.

The World Is Somewhat Sane

DC Judge and general asshole Roy Pearson was dealt a "blow" when he found out that his suit against Custom Cleaners had been thrown out by the court. The Judge presiding determined that the cleaners did not violate any city rules by not giving Pearson full satisfaction.

This is a fitting end to the tragedy that is this case. I'm sure I have not heard the end of this case as Pearson will most likely appeal, but that is unknown as of this time. But, this is a victory for everyone right now.

Clarification

In Re: Jessie Davis, I believe that something is afoot due to the nature of the evidence surrounding the case. A mystery person calls and says that Cutts asked for help from a female friend. So, they pick up Myisha Ferrell on obstruction. They look through her house and pull out a bunch of fairly ordinary cleaning supplies. Search aside, the last time I checked unsubstantiated evidence does not a conviction make. I can't make unverifiable accusations against my neighbors. That is called circumstantial evidence and is not allowed in most courts of law.

With such sketchy information sources and the fact they harped on him since the disappearance of Davis, Cutts's alleged guilt seems specious to me on many fronts. I don't automatically pull out the race card because I think it is a copout. I only resort to the race card when I feel it is a real situation of racial injustice, which I think this may be. The Canton PD did not attempt to search for anyone else. It was automatically assumed that he did it. I'm concerned that they think this not because he is the boyfriend, but because he is Black. And this possibility is one that leaves me unsettled.

If he is found guilty, OK, he was found guilty. As long as it is by a multi-ethnic jury (I know about Ohio. I went to school there. I was called a nigger by white people, so don't give me any bull about a fair trial from a white jury.), I will accept it. Additionally, if he is found not guilty, this man's reputation, and black men's reputations, will be soiled once again by the White aggressor.

The New Priorities

Think Progress:

Yesterday, CNN proudly announced that it has scored the first post-jail interview with Paris Hilton. To make room for Paris on Wednesday, CNN canceled its interview with Michael Moore about his new health care documentary SiCKO:

The most trusted name is news, eh? I don't even like Michael Moore that much, and I think that this is fucked up. Also, Paris Hilton doesn't have an hour of material to talk about or at least an hour of material that I want to hear.

Supreme Court Sucks

In America, we are burdened with a positive/negative thing: The Supreme Court. In good times (read: when people understand the idea of precedent and facts), the Supreme Court has integrated schools and given minorities fair access to academic facilities along with making criminals aware of the rights afforded to them by the Constitution. In bad times (read: now), the Supreme Court tramples upon the rights of women to file workplace discrimination suits while pandering to corporate interests.

Today, the Supreme Court really pulled a fast one over on the high school students of America. While their rights are already being trampled upon by being forced to learn material that is of no interest to them while being groomed to take inaccurate measures of intelligence in the form of standardized tests, the high school student's right to free speech is now in question.

In the case, The Supreme Court determined that a school was allowed to suspend a student who held up a sign that said "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" while the Olympic flame passed through town. The student said that the phrase meant nothing, but the high school was certain that it was a reference to drug usage. The school suspended the student for ten days after he would not rat out his conspirators. He appealed his suspension to the school board to no effect. And he proceeded to file a civil rights suit against the school district, which brings us up to the present. It is also important to note that this sign was not displayed on school grounds, but, in fact, across the street from the school. Such an action places him on public property where free speech is allowed. But, according to the Supreme Court, this isn't really true. This leads to the question of where can high school students express themselves because this will allow for the schools to crack down on student publications, which were already heavily censored by administrations. If the Supreme Court has its way, high school students will become test-taking automatons. The sad part is, the Court's conservative majority, the side that decided this case, is still young.

While the Supreme Court has only been together for a year and a half, its mark is already being made to the detriment of America. Bad decisions that have limited the freedoms of many members of society. But, due to the Constitution, we can only wait until they retire from the bench because the Supreme Court is for life.

To Spread The Word

Mike Gravel, fan favorite and completely misunderstood political candidate, wrote a blog post over at The Huffington Post, the NY Times of liberal blogging. Actually, scratch that. It's the Washington Post of liberal blogging. Daily Kos is the NY Times.

By the way, Gravel's totally right. Hillary's a terrible candidate for the reasons stated in the post.

Discomfort is Unpleasant

While I am sad for the loss that the Davises have had with the discovery of the corpse of their daughter and sister Jessie, I have to say that I'm frankly discomforted with the racial connotations in this case. While I am not attempting to say that Bobby Cutts, Jr. is innocent or guilty, I am saying that this case is reminiscent of Susan Smith.

From the case's onset, it was already assumed that the boyfriend did it even though there is no clear proof that he actually did anything in this situation. Nothing really ties him to the scene. Yes, he is connected with the woman, but who is to say that he did it, especially if the child is his? He already had one child with her. Why would he kill her now before she has another that has been developed to term? This is all unimportant as he was, essentially, under arrest since she went missing.

I understand that he isn't the best cop of all time, but I have to believe that he had to know that he wasn't going to get away with this. I can't put my finger on it, but this case reeks of the assumption that he killed her because he's black.

Like I said before, I am not trying to defend him in any way. But, I would like more facts to come out and maybe an actual motive before I call him guilty like the rest of the world already has even though they don't have any proof to do so.

Also, if you are wondering why I haven't commented on this case before, I, as a rule, do not generally comment on cases involving missing white girls. The reason is because I think that the around-the-clock coverage awarded to white girls by MSNBC, CNN, Fox News, and others is utter bullshit like the Paris Hilton jail countdown. What makes a missing white girl more important than a missing Black girl? A missing Latina? A missing Asian? Or, for that matter, a missing male of any race? Every missing person is important. No one should have to suffer through the loss of a family member.

But, by constantly reporting on only missing white girls, the mainstream media is helping to reinforce negative stereotypes of women as frail and dependent. At the same time, they are also saying that the minorities who have been struggling to gain acceptance in this country as also unimportant and insignificant since those children do not make it past the local news or get Nancy Grace flying out to investigate their case on national prime-time television.

For me to comment frequently on the developments of such cases is antithetical to what I believe as a radical Black male. I'm actually disappointed that I've commented on this case, but I cannot ignore the negative racial undercurrent flowing through this case because it is so fragrantly in the forefront of this case whether the news channels want to admit it or not.

Why Isn't This Easy For Anyone Else?

Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Democratic candidate John Edwards and cancer sufferer along with being a generally amazing woman, spoke at the opening event for the San Francisco Gay Pride Parade yesterday. Unlike her husband, Mrs. Edwards took a very solid stance towards gay marriage and deviated from her own husband. She said:

"I don't know why somebody else's marriage has anything to do with me,'' she said. "I'm completely comfortable with gay marriage.''

I'm in complete agreement with Mrs. Edwards here. I've actually been saying something like this for a fairly long time now. If dudes want to marry other dudes, that's on them. I don't care if they get married because it really doesn't concern me; they aren't marrying me. Hell, it's to their advantage to get married. Being married in America offers many high quality perks like higher quality health insurance for cheaper and a lot of smaller things.

And, for all of the people who say that marriage is a sacred institution, why is the American divorce rate at 50 percent? It can't be that sacred can it? More importantly, why are you so concerned with what other people do in the sanctity of their own homes? You aren't living with them, so what does it concern you?

My befuddlement at their argument aside, I'm glad that Mrs. Edwards stepped up to the plate and is willing to acknowledge the ever-present fact in this argument: love between two people should be of concern to no one but the two people in love. Society doesn't have to agree, but these people should be able to express themselves in such a manner. If the Democrats weren't such consummate half-steppers, they would have had the sheer bravado to do what Mrs. Edwards has done: step out of lock step and admit her own opinion.

A Sad Day for Me

While I will not attempt to say that the following has precedent over the dying in Iraq, Palestine, or Darfur, I still find today to be a personally sad day as a fan of sport.

Thierry Henry, the guy to the left, is an international class footballer. Coming from the slums of Paris, Henry is now wholly recognized as one of the best forwards in world football. Watching Henry on the pitch is always exciting. He's inventive with tremendous pace and can make some of the prettiest goals you'll ever see. Henry is one of my favorite players because he plays for my favorite club in England: Arsenal. Actually, he was the reason that I started following Arsenal.

Today is sad because, as can be seen in that photo, Henry took a physical today. Unfortunately, he passed it. So, this means that he is no longer a Gunner and is now a member of the juggernaut of Spanish soccer that is FC Barcelona. While they were defeated this year by the boys in white Real Madrid, FC Barcelona has one of the best catalysts in the world game in Ronaldinho (note: he is the best footballer in the world. Period.) and a fantastic supporting team. One of the best strikers plus one of the best midfielders equals one of the best teams in the game. While I'm happy for Barca now being able to overtake Real, I am sad by the fact that I will no longer be able to watch Henry streak through Ashburton Grove anymore and bring pride to the Gunners of Arsenal.

Turn A Corner?

So, I've been thinking about the following song. I'm currently working on memorizing this song in the same way that I have memorized this song:



This song is also proof of the fact that I know about every Phife Dawg verse from The Low End Theory. Anyway, the weekend is over and the 5 A Day project is starting over again. I don't really blog on weekends. Also, I am posting some random tracks. Let's hope the next week brings some real material for me to blog on. In reality, I should write a comment about Angelina Jolie playing in blackface in her new movie, but that would require me supporting the enterprise by seeing it. As well, I should write a fuller comment about something, but I forgot what. Regardless, random tracks!

Rough Gay At The Office - Arab on Radar
Everybody Needs A 303 - Fatboy Slim
Down In The Park - Gary Numan
Bluebird - Howlin' Wolf
If The Papes Come - A Tribe Called Quest
Feel No Pain - Sade
Bobby Can't Dance - Mr. Oizo
Reception - My Teenage Stride
Refractions in the Plastic Pulse - Stereolab
Real Niggaz Don't Die - N.W.A.
Pretty Words - Tindersticks
Never Say Never - Romeo Void
Send Me Your Ear - Puke, Spit, and Guts
30 Seconds Over Tokyo - Pere Ubu
Roaring Blood - Jet Generation

5 A Day: Day Five

I have totally been pre-occupied today. Between doing my laundry and sleeping, I didn't even get through my RSS feeds. Today just has been a hot mess. I clearly cannot blog from bed. So, with that I leave you with this video from the original O.G. Big Daddy Kane. 50 Cent doesn't have shit on the B-I-G-D-A-Double D-Y-K-A-N-E!



And, like earlier in the week, I have posted a picture of the reviews. The albums are color coded as well.

The code:

The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control is in blue
Julie Ruin - S/T is in yellow
Kleenex - S/T EP is in grey
June of 44 - Four Great Points is in pink
James Brown - There It Is is in purple

Why Congress Has No Respect

If you have been reading the news, you are fully aware of the fact that a recent Gallup poll has come out with some fairly disturbing yet unsurprising news. In this report, Congress's approval rating is at a very low 14 percent. With the swing that occurred in November 2006 to the Democratic side, many political commentators are wondering how such an event occurred. There is a much simpler answer to this: backbone.

Frequently, we have watched the Democratically led Congress back off from bills that have been divisive. Instead of standing their ground and passing the bill or allowing the right to appropriately filibuster*, the left just takes the bill away and runs off with their tail between their legs. I don't need to expend a lot of my time talking about why the Democrats are useless in Congress like I could. Their actions speak more than loudly enough.

*Under parliamentary rules, the filibuster is the means of which to hold up legislation. More importantly, filibustering is the refusal to vote for cloture, or the end of debate. With this in mind, the opposing parties have to maintain debate on the floor. It slows down the work of the legislative body, but the Senate moves at a snail's pace anyway, so no one would really notice. The maintaining of debate means the presentation of speeches. The best known filibuster is Strom Thurmond talking for a day straight to keep Black people down. But, as can be figured out, filibustering exposes the people who are against the legislation, something that would be strategically advantageous for the Democrats.

Someone Agrees

As may well be known, I'm into fashion. In particular, I'm into fashion writing. When it is not caught up in poetic wanderings about the whimsy of the new post-industrial look generated by the newest Japanese designer that Rei Kawakubo has taken under her wing, fashion writing is one of the only forms of journalism that is frequently fueled by immense amounts of hating. And, I'm not talking about casual hating. I'm talking about haterade-gulping by the gallon types of hate. One of the primary proponents of this form of hate is Washington Post fashion writer Robin Givhan.

Today, in her weekly article, Givhan goes to town on Bush for wearing Crocs and black socks. This is, as it seems, really dumb. But, she concedes it was appropriate as he was going biking and would need the comfortable shoes after saddling up in bike shoes, something that any biker can nod their head to.

She goes into a history about the nature of crocs, but that it immaterial to why I agree with her. I agree with her because Crocs are the most hideous shoes ever created by man. I've put them on before. They are comfortable. But, I'm also smart enough to know that if I wore them in public, I would hate myself forever. But, this is not a deterrent to anyone else as people wear them all of the time. You know, I'll let college slide. I knew cool people in college that wore crocs, but that was college. I've seen grown ass men and women wearing Crocs in public, and that is just unacceptable. You pay bills; you have no right to walk around in a pair of plastic shoes that are orange/pink/yellow.

Epilogue: Givhan also rallies against flip-flops, another argument I agree with. Flip-flops are lazy clothing. If you wear a pair of flip-flops, it's says I give up. They are the foot equivalent of sweatpants. They say I don't have the effort to actually put on a pair of shoes, seeing as that would take all of ten seconds, five if you don't have to tie anything.

Sky is the Limit

A bonus post. Biggie f/ 112 - Sky is the Limit.

5 A Day: Day 4

This is all done to the rhythm of Sleater-Kinney. It popped in my head while I was grilling earlier.

Anyway, we proceed...

Baden Powell - Enciclopedia Musical Brasileira

This is a 1966 release from the Brazilian guitarist Baden Powell de Aquino, more commonly known as Baden Powell. Powell is an interesting guitarist. While he is clearly of Brazilian origin due to his sonic similarities to Joao Gilberto and Tom Jobim, Powell is also culling his cues from classical guitar as well as more traditional electric jazz guitar. But unlike traditional jazz guitar, Powell plays an classical acoustic guitar with precision and great technicality. As one would suspect from a musician the quality of Powell, the music is electrifying and thoroughly engaging. Over the course of the album, Powell references American jazz, Bossa Nova, and classic Brazilian samba. As well, Powell shows off his brilliance in solo pieces that allows him to show off his technique and skills. For anyone who calls themselves a guitar player, they should have this album in their collection so they can listen to the brilliance of one of the masters of the instrument.

Beck - Mutations

Through his catalog, Beck has always existed in two forms: the postmodern ironist who has an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach to music and the considerate folk artist who sits in a room playing pretty folk songs and strums his guitar. Mutations is based in the latter form of Beck. The cacophony of samples and Dust Brothers production of Odelay is replaced by acoustic guitars and the smooth, reverb-drenched production of Nigel Godrich. While I think that Godrich is unadventurous as a producer along with being ridiculously heavy-handed and predictable, Beck shines as a different artist on Mutations. Following the masterwork that is Odelay, Mutations is a great shift of form and sound, showing a more sensitive and pondering side of his character. The sampling geek that I love hasn't left either. Beck samples different musical forms, calling upon tropicalia, bossa nova, samba, country, and the blues. The trick to Beck's sampling is that it sounds like he has been playing these forms for years. Unlike other artists who sample different forms and come across as hacks, Beck integrates them into his folk base easily and makes it sound like he has been playing all of these forms for years. According to Beck and his record labels Bong Load and Geffen, Mutations was intended to be a stopgap between Odelay and the mess that was Midnight Vultures. For a stopgap, this is an amazing album. Mutations is considerably better than a lot of other bands' practiced and intentional releases. It just helps to show that Beck is truly where it's at.

Blancmange - Irene & Mavis

Blancmange is a fairly successful British band that had problems crossing over into the American musical sphere. They play a brand of synth pop that is very dreamy and influenced by Indian music. On this EP, the sound is a bit more experimental with no clear reference to the East. As well, the EP shares a kinship with the new romantic movement, reminding me a bit of OMD. For a band that was very successful and has a kinship with new romanticism, this album displays a clear sense of amateurism. On the song Concentration Baby, the singer is laughing through the song. He can't deliver lines correctly. Additionally, the production throughout the album was not very good. It was muddy and the violin on the aforementioned Concentration Baby sounds like a kazoo. While the songs are not bad, they do not flow together and the quality of sound is low. On the whole, this is a very spotty release that could have benefitted immensely from editorial discretion and a little less snickering.

Boogie Down Productions - Criminally Minded

I'm not going to wax prosaic about this album because this is a seminal hip-hop album. If you haven't heard this album and you call yourself a hip-hop head, I'm straight up putting you on blast. You are some weak shit. Period. You can start up the road to victory by buying this album. You still will suck and should get criticized by your friends for sucking, but your friends probably suck too if they haven't put you on this album.

For the non-heads, this is the rap album that changed the game in a lot of ways. It took rap out of the clubs and put it on the street and opened the door for hardcore rap to flourish. It wouldn't have approved of the current rap style, but it definitely opened the door. Super important album. Definitely a must have and a must listen.

Brian Jonestown Massacre - Bravery, Repetition, and Noise

While they were the subject of a documentary, do not let that fool you into thinking that the Brian Jonestown Massacre is as worthless as the Dandy Warhols musically (yes, I said it. The Dandy Warhols suck!). To the contrary, The Brian Jonestown Massacre is one of the more entertaining band in the music world and it isn't because of their onstage antics; it's because their music. BJM is best known for combining shoegaze, psychedelic rock, and eastern influences into a maelstrom of hazy, swirling rock and roll. does recognize this tradition, but also deviates from it. The main deviation is that these songs have actual verse/chorus/verse structures as well as a solid pop foundation. This isn't the traditional BJM style, but you would have never convinced me of that. The album are strong all the way through. The songs are catchy and, like any good pop song, easy to sing along with. Standouts for me are the country/psych-tinged rambler Open Heart Surgery, the swirling Nevertheless, and the upbeat Telegram. Bravery, Repetition, and Noise is one of those albums that you will start nodding along to without knowing that you are nodding along to it. This is what happened to me. I guarantee this is what will happen to you too.

If You Feel at a Loss

If you are feeling at a loss like I am with everyone being on vacation and not doing anything interesting, you can take the last nine days of June and celebrate National Gay Pride Month! That is correct, June is officially National Gay Pride Month. Commemorate the tragedy of the Stonewall Riots (you actually can a week from today. The anniversary is the 28th of June). Play a Judy Garland Record. Watch Mommie Dearest and anything involving Divine (I recommend Pink Flamingos). Watch a drag queen show and marvel at the fact those guys can work a catwalk out. As well, give your local queer a hug to tell them that you are proud of them for being unapologetic about who they really are. Also, this is your last meaningful month to celebrate because it goes downhill from here. Next month is National Ice Cream Month. I'm jazzed about that, but I also love ice cream.

The Dead One Gets Paid

Apparently, once P. Hilton a/k/a The Dead One is getting a huge payday from NBC once she gets out. To the tune of one million dollars. Honestly. Is it worth this much?

Why Hillary Just Lost My Vote

As if you didn't already know, Hillary Clinton chose her new campaign song. It is "You and I" by Celine Dion. I will not add to the chorus of boos coming from places as disparate as CNN to the liberal blogosphere. I will say that I could let the fact that she waffles all the time slide. It pisses me off, but I could let it slide. The fact that she chose this song, a love song about an airplane, by Celine Dion sealed her fate as someone is completely out of touch with the youth and probably the rest of America, an amazing feat for someone of her plainly high level of intellect.

Here is the song if you don't believe me in saying that it sucks.



Told you.

The Quest for Blue Velvet

While this summer has seen the return of old shows such as So You Think You Can Dance, American Inventor, Big Love, and Pirate Master (They test all the reality programming now. What can I say?), this summer has also seen a new disturbing trend in programming: the attempts to out-David Lynch David Lynch.

If you are unfamiliar, David Lynch is a filmmaker who is best known for his 1986 cult film Blue Velvet and his infamous ABC television show Twin Peaks, which revolved around FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper's attempts to solve the mystery of who killed town prom queen Laura Palmer. Lynch is known for being decidedly obtuse, abandoning traditional ideas of plot and narrative, and moving his stories at a dreamlike pace. For some, these characteristics are what make Lynch compelling. For others, these aspects make watching Lynch unenjoyable. Regardless of personal opinions, Lynch has changed the perspective that many viewers have taken towards film and television, allowing for more surreality and abstraction in plot.

Lynch's distinct perspective towards storytelling and narrative are being challenged by two new shows that have premiered on television in the last two weeks: John from Cincinnati and Meadowlands.

John from Cincinnati is a new show created by John Nunn and David Milch, a creator of the crime drama NYPD Blue and the controversial western Deadwood. The plot revolves around the Yost family. Father Mitch was a successful surfer until he suffered a knee injury that forced him to retire from professional competition 20 years earlier. Mitch and his wife Cissy had a boy named Butchie who was a phenomenal surfer, but, due to the actions of his manager, he became a heroin junkie who fell out with his family. In family tradition, Butchie had a son named Shaun who is 13 and a fantastic surfer, but the family is in conflict about what to do about his life. Mitch does not want Shawn to fall victim to sharks like Butchie, but Butchie wants Shawn to pursue what makes him happy.

The family is thrown into chaos with the arrival of a mysterious man. This man has no origins, no background. He also has very little verbal ability; he repeats what everyone around him says as well as the same five phrases over and over again. There is a clear switch of reality around the family. This man is magical, but no one is sure how or what his purpose is here. While the show has only been on for two weeks, the question that the show is trying to answer is very clear: Who is John Monad? The best that they know is that he is from Cincinnati, but that is uncertain given his tendency to repeat what people around him say when not repeating his stock phrases like "the end is near".

If this all seems eerily familiar to you, it should. This show pretty much has the same flow and plot as Twin Peaks. Instead of a bleak logging town, John from Cincinnati is takes place in the California border town of Imperial Beach. While the location is different, the plot is the same: a stranger comes into the community, people are uncertain about whether to trust him, and there is a central question that has to be answered. Additionally, the show is just as intentionally weird as Twin Peaks with bizarre neighbors and supernatural occurrences. For example, from time to time, Mitch just floats into the air above the ground for no reason. It will probably be explained in time, but we don't know for now, just like in Twin Peaks. To the show's positive, it is very engaging to watch if not slow from time to time.

The other show battling for the crown for Lynchian absurdity is Meadowlands, a group project between a British production firm and Showtime. This show revolves around the Brogan family made up of Patriarch Danny, Matriarch Evelyn, and twins Zoe and Mark. The Brogans move into a new community called Meadowlands where everything seems ideal. All of the neighbors are happy and friendly, the neighborhood is clean. But, as signaled by some initial flashbacks, the Brogans are hiding something about their own life. The only thing that can be certain is that something that happened in a fire that led to a death. What this something is has not been elucidated.

In addition to the mysterious circumstances of their existence, it also made clear that the Brogans are not the Brogans. The Brogans are, in fact, a different family, one with a very different and sordid past. Additionally, the people who live in the neighborhood are very much not like they seem. There is an inspector in the town who maintains the peace. When Danny told him that he wanted the town handyman to stay away from his daughter, the inspector proceeded to trip the player in a pick up game and kick him with full force in his eye. Danny asks the inspector why he did this; he said to protect the purity of his daughter, just as Danny had wished.

Amongst other strange things, the son Mark, who hasn't spoken for four months, is obsessed with the woman who lives across from him. Mark corners her one day wearing a pair of red gloves, which she says are pretty. Mark then sends her the gloves in an envelope that night and watches from his window as she puts them on and masturbates, baring herself to this mysterious stranger who has decided to take an interest in her. Mark also takes a shining to the woman's daughter Jezebel who has returned from a strange place called Purgatory.

This show reeked of the aspects that made Blue Velvet such a haunting, engaging movie with its placid, suburban ideal infused by an insidious undercurrent of evil and violence. Additionally, the presence of the inspector and the fact that no one leaves the neighborhood is very reminiscent of another challenging British drama: The Prisoner. While no secrets are trying to be discovered, the inspector is the roaming bubble that captured dissenters. Additionally, the fact that people cannot escape Meadowlands is very reminiscent of The Village. For example, when the Brogans arrived, their neighbor already knew their name, a disturbing fact as they had not been on the grounds for more than a minute.

While John from Cincinnati has been on for two weeks, Meadowlands has only been on for one. Both of these shows will be exactly like a Lynch movie. There is no clear idea where either show will go and there are no hints as to anything that will happen, even between episodes.
It will be captivating to see where each show goes from where they are now.

John from Cincinnati airs on Sundays at 9 PM on HBO. Meadowlands airs at 10 PM on Showtime.

5 A Day: Day 3

Click the photo and read the reviews for the day. And, yes, I do have a copy of the Mary Tyler Moore Show theme on my desktop. It's for a mix tape that I'm making. It's a perfect introduction for the tape that I have stewing in my head. Also, yes, my personal folder is named after Ms. Kahlo and the hard drive the protagonist of The Bell Jar. Esther Greenwood was the name of my iTunes on my old computer, but that name is now Phlox Lombardi.

In this update, I have reviewed Au Revoir Simone's The Bird of Music, Joe Band's The Chocolate Undertow, The Church's Forget Yourself, Experimental Aircraft's Eponymous Release, and The Gories's I Know You Fine, But How You Doin'.

the Link to WFMU.

NBA: More Dramatic Than Anything On Broadway

The National Basketball Association is home to some of the best basketball players in the world. Players come from Alaska to China and everywhere in between to play the game invented by James Naismith in Springfield, MA. While these men are some of the best athletes on the face of the planet, I will need you to disregard that for this argument because it is not of concern. This post will not argue about the athletic skills needed to be a successful basketball player. To the contrary, this post will argue that basketball players, whether they are aware or not, share a kinship with the actors of the theatre.

The primary reason for such a belief is the nature of basketball as a sport on an aesthetic level. Unlike in other team sports, the crowd is positioned at a critical distance from the athletes. In football, this gives the feeling of a coliseum of ravenous fans dressed in ridiculous colors such as bright red and purple (LET'S GO RAVENS!!!!) cheering as their warriors go off into battle. Baseball is the same visual concept. Cricket puts the spectator farther away than these sports. Basketball deviates from the idea of separating the athlete from the spectator. Basketball puts the athlete and the spectator next to each other. Frequently, the athletes fall into the spectators. Spectators, to their pleasure or dismay, can feel the sweat and heat of the athletes as they hustle up and down the court.

Given the proximity of the spectator to the athlete, the sport of basketball takes on a different aspect. Along with it being a display of physical talents and athletic abilities, basketball is a form of performance. This holds true on all levels of the sport. Basketball is not just about putting the ball in the hoop; it is definitely not all about this on the NBA level where 15-20K pay hard-earned money to watch these men perform on the court. The performance given by basketball players in NBA games can be considered akin to that of a Broadway play.

First, let's look at the surface of the game. I do mean the literal surface. Basketball is usually played on hardwood floors installed in gyms. Broadway stages are also constructed of wood. Both surfaces can speak of gracing some of the best in their respective fields. Additionally, both fora are entered through a dark space. The athletes and actors, upon entering the space, are placed under the direct scrutiny of the audience. There is nowhere to run or hide. The naked emotions or sheer nudity is placed in the public arena for full scrutiny. The most obvious way in which these two forms is linked is through the usage of teamwork and performance under pressure.

To address teamwork first, Broadway casts and basketball players must satisfy the needs of the paying audience. Both do this in, essentially, the same manner: by playing their roles to their fullest extent. Once the lights go up on stage and the ball goes up in the air, the actors are in full effect on the stage and on the hardwood. In both situations, the players must satisfy their roles and present an engaging show to the audience. In basketball, this involves dunks and fancy movements. In theatre, presentations of raw emotion is more than satisfactory. Additionally, both actors have to work off of each other. The best teams are those that use each other to their fullest extent and add to the overall brilliance of the experience. The best teams make the best performances and go into history as the best.

Additionally, both forms require the actor to be calm under pressure. If a basketball player loses his cool, he makes mistakes like turning the ball over and missing free throws. This can lead to the loss of a game. If an actor cracks, they forget lines and are forced to think on their feet, something that very well may be uncomfortable to a less comedically inclined actor. This can lead to the closing of a promisingly good play due to bad reviews of the actors.

And like in a good play, the flow of a basketball game can rise and fall with the dynamics shifting between all of the actors on the court. Teams will go on streaks, raising the emotions of the audience to a fever pitch like the conflict rising in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? or Buried Child. Additionally, like in a good basketball game, quality scenes from a play can leave the art world abuzz for days in conversation about the decision.

Art and sports are not dissimilar by any stretch of the imagination. On the contrary, drama and basketball are quite similar. Both require a mastery of craft and a willingness to please and create a close intimacy with the paying audience. Both have similar dynamics as well as the ability to create memorable pieces of history during their runs of course. As well, both put their performers on center stage with nowhere to run or hide. All of this helps to show that, while both attract different audiences, basketball and theatre are really not very different at all on an aesthetic level.

I Actually Wish I Had Something To Post

That title is misleading because I actually have material that I can post. I should rewind from this moment and explain forwards.

I was reading my RSS feeds and getting ready to start posting until

BLAM!

the power went out. So, with the power going out, I decided to take a drive and go down to the park to read. The only park near my house that I could remember was about a fifteen-minute drive away. It was good times, but I felt like my position on the top of the kids' slide was giving me the hater eye from the parents in the area. Anyway, when I get around to going through my reader, there isn't a lot going on.

I have a lot of essay type things to put up such as how TV is trying to out David Lynch David Lynch and the NBA as performance art, another entry into the theoretical defense of athletics as artistic and/or intellectual endeavors. But, I don't actually have time to write these pieces right now because I have to go to dinner in about a half-hour, enough time to maybe get through the intros.