- Diablo Swing Orchestra - A Tapdancer's Dilemma
- Asrai - In Front of Me
- Pinback - Sherman
- Beirut - Elephant Gun
- sElf - Could You Love Me Now?
- Hot Chip - Over and Over
- Damien Rice - 9 Crimes
- Cibo Matto - Sugar Water
- Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
- In This Moment - You Always Believed
- Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is the Move
- VAST - Touched
- Hybrid - Choke
- Metric - Black Sheep
- The Temper Trap - Down River
- Dresden Dolls - Dirty Business
- Greg Laswell - Your Ghost
- Optiganally Yours - Figaro
- The Paper Raincoat - Sympathetic Vibration
- Metisse - Boom Boom Ba
Showing posts with label lists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lists. Show all posts
Monday, July 18, 2011
Playlist for 7/18/11
Thursday, July 7, 2011
More Things I Hate (Rant II, the Revenge)
So, it's been a while since I've ranted, and that's what I originally planned to do a lot of with this blog. With that in mind, I've decided it's time. And yesterday I found inspiration on a few different subjects. Bill and I went to Wal-Mart with a friend because we needed quite a bit of stuff for the new apartment we moved into last weekend. No, the rant isn't about Wal-Mart specifically, though I do think that they are evil. But, to quote Nightwish: "Beware the Beast, but enjoy the feast he offers." No, it's the people AT Wal-Mart that will start this rant off. So, without further ado, my rant.
Fat people in electric carts
This is among the most irritating things I've ever seen. If I had been playing Wal-Mart Bingo I would have scored points before even getting in the store. I saw no less than 5 fat ladies riding the scooters provided for people with actual physical handicaps. Sorry, but fat isn't a handicap. It's the result of poor choices. Now, I realize that there is always the possibility that someone has a legitimate ailment or condition ("it's glandular...") that makes them morbidly obese. And maybe you could argue that it is a handicap in that case. But I seriously doubt all of these people actually had a handicap.
Fat people can walk. If you're fat, it's most likely because of overeating, eating the wrong foods, and lack of exercise. So, really, fat people not only can walk, but should. Bill and I were fat. We've still got a long way to go before we aren't considered fat anymore. But the fact is, we never blamed anyone but ourselves, and when it became an obstacle to comfortable living and a healthy self-image, we changed. We started going for walks. We started taking the stairs. We became more active. And we began to monitor what we ate. We have very low willpower. If we can do this, anybody can.
So, it's not my life, so why do I get pissed off? Because there are legitimately handicapped people for whom the electric scooters are intended. Wal-Mart has a large number of these scooters. But not an unlimited number. And if they're all taken up by fat lazy people, then the people that actually need them will be made to suffer. While I was at Wal-Mart in line to pay, the two women in front of me were both in scooters. One of them was very fat indeed. The other wasn't what I'd call morbidly obese. Yes, she was fat, but not cripplingly so. But what killed me is that to get to her money, she stood up to dig through her pockets. So, she's able-bodied enough for that. It just irritates me. While waiting for Bill to be done checking out, I overheard two employees talking. They were out of fresh scooters, so they were going to bring more out. The junior employee said "But those aren't even charged!" The senior employee said "but we don't have any left, and the manager said we need to." So, essentially, if someone with a real need came in, they'd have the very real possibility of being stranded in the middle of the store when the charge died, all because of some very selfish, lazy fat people.
Parents who don't parent
Well what do you know? This one is on the bingo card too! The incident that specifically made me think of this one also occurred during checkout. There was a young couple with a little girl of about three years old. The girl was in the cart (not the seat portion, but the actual basket). The mother was facing away, looking at the cashier. The father was standing next to the cart, and giving furtive glances at the girl. Well, I guess I'm just assuming it's the father. Maybe it's just a friend of the mother. Who knows? The point is, the little girl was jumping up and down in the cart and screeching.
First of all, I'd like to point out that three year olds aren't known for their grace and dexterity. So the kid could very easily have fallen out of the cart. But the screeching had to be annoying to more than just me. The mother kept shooting glares at her kid, but never actually did anything. She didn't say a word. She didn't make the child sit. She just let the kid be an annoyance to everyone in the vicinity with the ability to hear.
The sad fact is that this is really common, and not just at Wal-Mart. How many times have you seen kids running amok in a public place. They're making too much noise, hitting into people and objects, knocking things over and being at best a nuisance, and at worst an actual physical threat. And where are the parents? Either nowhere to be seen, or even worse, right there allowing it. When I worked front desk at a hotel, I would frequently have to deal with children running around unsupervised. It's like the parents figured the staff would take care of them. We have other things to deal with that are actually our job. I don't like kids at all, so that makes this one doubly irritating to me.
When I was a kid, if we acted up, we would get disciplined by my mother. It would range from threats of grounding all the way up to spanking if our behavior was particularly bad. I just don't know what accounts for the permissiveness that you see in parents today. Is it because they're afraid that if they spank their children in public, that Child Protective Services will get them for abuse? Or are they so soft that they think spanking is wrong and you should try reasoning with your children? Whatever the reason, they need to reassess their plan, because spanking works. I know it worked on me and my siblings.
Parents who over-parent
This probably seems weird considering my last point. I realize it's a balancing act. But some people just go too far in the other direction. I didn't specifically see any of this at Wal-Mart yesterday, though I've certainly seen it in various places over the years. Have you ever seen a parent who just completely overreacts to a small situation? Now, I understand that there might be more than what I've seen. Perhaps the kid was being a little asshole the entire car trip out to wherever they happen to be. Or maybe the little brat is doing something he's been told not to do dozens of times before. So I understand all that. But I've seen parents (in some cases people I actually knew personally) who were so strict and mean to their kids that it's a wonder the children never ran away.
It's always disturbing to me to see this particular thing, because sometimes you can really hear and feel the venom in the adult's voice as they yell at (or worse, do that whole "fierce whisper" sort of thing) their kids. And if I can hear or feel it, you can bet the kid does too. It's sort of distressing to hear a mother talk with more hate than love when dealing with her child. My mom was stern when she needed to be, but I've never heard anything even close to dislike from her, let alone the bile that some of these parents unleash on their kids.
The other side of the over-parenting coin is the overprotective coddler. These are the parents who act as if their children are so fragile that simply hearing the wrong thing will require years of therapy to undo. They aren't aloud to play outside because there is evidently a child molester on every street corner. These children are going to grow up so afraid of the world that they will be unprepared to actually deal with life. Parents need to find a healthy balance. Teach your child independence, but don't skimp on teaching discipline and manners, either. It's your job as a parent. My job doesn't involve raising your kids.
Celebrating mediocrity
This seems like a natural segue from the mollycoddling parents of the previous point. Why do we feel the need to reward people for just showing up? What's the point of a competition if everyone gets a ribbon? I don't remember there being too much of this sort of thing when I was growing up, though I'm sure it must have been happening. I never got a "thanks for participating" medal. I never got a "participation trophy." It defeats the purpose of competition to do these things. And a bit of competitive spirit is not a bad thing to teach children. Competition drives excellence. Do you really want to teach your kids that doing the bare minimum is just fine? If there's no reason to excel, people simply won't.
One of coworkers was bragging and showing off pictures of her granddaughter's graduation...from Kindergarten. Really? A full cap-and-gown commencement for kids who don't even know what the hell a commencement is? That makes no sense at all. It's unnecessary and excessive. And what's the benefit? Is it to create a false sense of being special so even unremarkable children feel accomplished? It sort of seems like setting them up to fail in the real world, which isn't half as indulgent.
Also related to this point is the overuse of the word "hero." These days, if you even sign up for the military, you're called a hero. I think people confuse the concept of a hero with a personal hero. There's a big difference. Just signing on the dotted line and putting on a uniform doesn't make you a hero. Getting sent overseas in wartime doesn't make you a hero. You're doing your job. Going above and beyond, risking life and limb to save another, taking a chance to make a large difference, regardless of the cost....those are heroic actions. Sitting in a camp, eating MREs and doing drills doesn't make you a hero. Even participating in combat doesn't necessarily make you a hero. Surviving makes you skilled, or lucky. Going to war makes you a soldier, maybe even a good one. But a hero? Come on.
Court case du jour and the armchair litigators
The most recent occurence of this is Casey Anthony case. There are several aspects of this that piss me off, and I'm going to try to cover all of them. Point one: what makes the case du jour more important or newsworthy than the hundreds upon hundreds of other murders, disappearances, kidnappings, rapes, and other heinous crimes? The media decides that they can really get a high ratings response from particular cases. Maybe it's because there's a cute kid involved. Maybe it's because it's a pretty white girl on vacation. I have to wonder why you don't see a big fanfare if the girl who disappears is black, or Mexican, or unattractive.
So the media applies their process to the news of the day, and sees which diamonds in the rough they can polish and turn into a treasure of ratings. They present what facts they are given by the authorities (usually not all of them, of course) and make a snap judgment about the suspect. They give their opinions like they are facts, and they try and convict the person based on conjecture. They present the news with that bias intact, and the public eats it up, because it's a good story. Then these armchair litigators act as if they're experts on the case because they've been watching Nancy Grace's coverage every night. They make the snap decision they've been spoonfed, and they think it's their own well-reasoned logic that informed their opinion.
The whole process pisses me off. Looking specifically at the Casey Anthony case, I've heard many people express disgust and disbelief that she "got away with it." But you can be damn sure that if they were on trial, they would want the same benifit of reasonable doubt that they are indignant about in this case. Even though she was found not guilty, she will be dogged by the assumption of her guilt. She'll be stigmatized and will most likely have to move. But since this case was covered nationally, where can she go? This will very likely affect her prospects of future employment. Yet she'll also be judged if she attempts to profit from this whole fiasco. She's in a no-win situation, and it shouldn't be that way.
People can argue that the public has a right to know. But if it hampers justice, how can we possibly retain that right? Why do we "need" to know the details of this particular case, when there are thousands more that no one even cares about? How are we as the public benefitting for the case being publicized? We aren't. The only thing satisfied is our own prurient nature and the chance to exercise the self-perceived skills we gleaned from Law and Order and CSI.
I get so angry when I hear someone declaim how they know someone's guilty, as if their opinion is somehow more valid than the decision of a jury of the defendant's peers, who had all the evidence put before them and had a reasoned and unbiased examination and deliberation on those facts. That's just hubris, and there's no place for it in the justice system.
Whew, rant over. I feel much better now. If you fit into one of these categories, I don't mean to offend you, but I still mean what I say. I'm by no means perfect, and I'll happily read your rants about my behavior if you'd like.
Fat people in electric carts
This is among the most irritating things I've ever seen. If I had been playing Wal-Mart Bingo I would have scored points before even getting in the store. I saw no less than 5 fat ladies riding the scooters provided for people with actual physical handicaps. Sorry, but fat isn't a handicap. It's the result of poor choices. Now, I realize that there is always the possibility that someone has a legitimate ailment or condition ("it's glandular...") that makes them morbidly obese. And maybe you could argue that it is a handicap in that case. But I seriously doubt all of these people actually had a handicap.
Fat people can walk. If you're fat, it's most likely because of overeating, eating the wrong foods, and lack of exercise. So, really, fat people not only can walk, but should. Bill and I were fat. We've still got a long way to go before we aren't considered fat anymore. But the fact is, we never blamed anyone but ourselves, and when it became an obstacle to comfortable living and a healthy self-image, we changed. We started going for walks. We started taking the stairs. We became more active. And we began to monitor what we ate. We have very low willpower. If we can do this, anybody can.
So, it's not my life, so why do I get pissed off? Because there are legitimately handicapped people for whom the electric scooters are intended. Wal-Mart has a large number of these scooters. But not an unlimited number. And if they're all taken up by fat lazy people, then the people that actually need them will be made to suffer. While I was at Wal-Mart in line to pay, the two women in front of me were both in scooters. One of them was very fat indeed. The other wasn't what I'd call morbidly obese. Yes, she was fat, but not cripplingly so. But what killed me is that to get to her money, she stood up to dig through her pockets. So, she's able-bodied enough for that. It just irritates me. While waiting for Bill to be done checking out, I overheard two employees talking. They were out of fresh scooters, so they were going to bring more out. The junior employee said "But those aren't even charged!" The senior employee said "but we don't have any left, and the manager said we need to." So, essentially, if someone with a real need came in, they'd have the very real possibility of being stranded in the middle of the store when the charge died, all because of some very selfish, lazy fat people.
Parents who don't parent
Well what do you know? This one is on the bingo card too! The incident that specifically made me think of this one also occurred during checkout. There was a young couple with a little girl of about three years old. The girl was in the cart (not the seat portion, but the actual basket). The mother was facing away, looking at the cashier. The father was standing next to the cart, and giving furtive glances at the girl. Well, I guess I'm just assuming it's the father. Maybe it's just a friend of the mother. Who knows? The point is, the little girl was jumping up and down in the cart and screeching.
First of all, I'd like to point out that three year olds aren't known for their grace and dexterity. So the kid could very easily have fallen out of the cart. But the screeching had to be annoying to more than just me. The mother kept shooting glares at her kid, but never actually did anything. She didn't say a word. She didn't make the child sit. She just let the kid be an annoyance to everyone in the vicinity with the ability to hear.
The sad fact is that this is really common, and not just at Wal-Mart. How many times have you seen kids running amok in a public place. They're making too much noise, hitting into people and objects, knocking things over and being at best a nuisance, and at worst an actual physical threat. And where are the parents? Either nowhere to be seen, or even worse, right there allowing it. When I worked front desk at a hotel, I would frequently have to deal with children running around unsupervised. It's like the parents figured the staff would take care of them. We have other things to deal with that are actually our job. I don't like kids at all, so that makes this one doubly irritating to me.
When I was a kid, if we acted up, we would get disciplined by my mother. It would range from threats of grounding all the way up to spanking if our behavior was particularly bad. I just don't know what accounts for the permissiveness that you see in parents today. Is it because they're afraid that if they spank their children in public, that Child Protective Services will get them for abuse? Or are they so soft that they think spanking is wrong and you should try reasoning with your children? Whatever the reason, they need to reassess their plan, because spanking works. I know it worked on me and my siblings.
Parents who over-parent
This probably seems weird considering my last point. I realize it's a balancing act. But some people just go too far in the other direction. I didn't specifically see any of this at Wal-Mart yesterday, though I've certainly seen it in various places over the years. Have you ever seen a parent who just completely overreacts to a small situation? Now, I understand that there might be more than what I've seen. Perhaps the kid was being a little asshole the entire car trip out to wherever they happen to be. Or maybe the little brat is doing something he's been told not to do dozens of times before. So I understand all that. But I've seen parents (in some cases people I actually knew personally) who were so strict and mean to their kids that it's a wonder the children never ran away.
It's always disturbing to me to see this particular thing, because sometimes you can really hear and feel the venom in the adult's voice as they yell at (or worse, do that whole "fierce whisper" sort of thing) their kids. And if I can hear or feel it, you can bet the kid does too. It's sort of distressing to hear a mother talk with more hate than love when dealing with her child. My mom was stern when she needed to be, but I've never heard anything even close to dislike from her, let alone the bile that some of these parents unleash on their kids.
The other side of the over-parenting coin is the overprotective coddler. These are the parents who act as if their children are so fragile that simply hearing the wrong thing will require years of therapy to undo. They aren't aloud to play outside because there is evidently a child molester on every street corner. These children are going to grow up so afraid of the world that they will be unprepared to actually deal with life. Parents need to find a healthy balance. Teach your child independence, but don't skimp on teaching discipline and manners, either. It's your job as a parent. My job doesn't involve raising your kids.
Celebrating mediocrity
This seems like a natural segue from the mollycoddling parents of the previous point. Why do we feel the need to reward people for just showing up? What's the point of a competition if everyone gets a ribbon? I don't remember there being too much of this sort of thing when I was growing up, though I'm sure it must have been happening. I never got a "thanks for participating" medal. I never got a "participation trophy." It defeats the purpose of competition to do these things. And a bit of competitive spirit is not a bad thing to teach children. Competition drives excellence. Do you really want to teach your kids that doing the bare minimum is just fine? If there's no reason to excel, people simply won't.
One of coworkers was bragging and showing off pictures of her granddaughter's graduation...from Kindergarten. Really? A full cap-and-gown commencement for kids who don't even know what the hell a commencement is? That makes no sense at all. It's unnecessary and excessive. And what's the benefit? Is it to create a false sense of being special so even unremarkable children feel accomplished? It sort of seems like setting them up to fail in the real world, which isn't half as indulgent.
Also related to this point is the overuse of the word "hero." These days, if you even sign up for the military, you're called a hero. I think people confuse the concept of a hero with a personal hero. There's a big difference. Just signing on the dotted line and putting on a uniform doesn't make you a hero. Getting sent overseas in wartime doesn't make you a hero. You're doing your job. Going above and beyond, risking life and limb to save another, taking a chance to make a large difference, regardless of the cost....those are heroic actions. Sitting in a camp, eating MREs and doing drills doesn't make you a hero. Even participating in combat doesn't necessarily make you a hero. Surviving makes you skilled, or lucky. Going to war makes you a soldier, maybe even a good one. But a hero? Come on.
Court case du jour and the armchair litigators
The most recent occurence of this is Casey Anthony case. There are several aspects of this that piss me off, and I'm going to try to cover all of them. Point one: what makes the case du jour more important or newsworthy than the hundreds upon hundreds of other murders, disappearances, kidnappings, rapes, and other heinous crimes? The media decides that they can really get a high ratings response from particular cases. Maybe it's because there's a cute kid involved. Maybe it's because it's a pretty white girl on vacation. I have to wonder why you don't see a big fanfare if the girl who disappears is black, or Mexican, or unattractive.
So the media applies their process to the news of the day, and sees which diamonds in the rough they can polish and turn into a treasure of ratings. They present what facts they are given by the authorities (usually not all of them, of course) and make a snap judgment about the suspect. They give their opinions like they are facts, and they try and convict the person based on conjecture. They present the news with that bias intact, and the public eats it up, because it's a good story. Then these armchair litigators act as if they're experts on the case because they've been watching Nancy Grace's coverage every night. They make the snap decision they've been spoonfed, and they think it's their own well-reasoned logic that informed their opinion.
The whole process pisses me off. Looking specifically at the Casey Anthony case, I've heard many people express disgust and disbelief that she "got away with it." But you can be damn sure that if they were on trial, they would want the same benifit of reasonable doubt that they are indignant about in this case. Even though she was found not guilty, she will be dogged by the assumption of her guilt. She'll be stigmatized and will most likely have to move. But since this case was covered nationally, where can she go? This will very likely affect her prospects of future employment. Yet she'll also be judged if she attempts to profit from this whole fiasco. She's in a no-win situation, and it shouldn't be that way.
People can argue that the public has a right to know. But if it hampers justice, how can we possibly retain that right? Why do we "need" to know the details of this particular case, when there are thousands more that no one even cares about? How are we as the public benefitting for the case being publicized? We aren't. The only thing satisfied is our own prurient nature and the chance to exercise the self-perceived skills we gleaned from Law and Order and CSI.
I get so angry when I hear someone declaim how they know someone's guilty, as if their opinion is somehow more valid than the decision of a jury of the defendant's peers, who had all the evidence put before them and had a reasoned and unbiased examination and deliberation on those facts. That's just hubris, and there's no place for it in the justice system.
Whew, rant over. I feel much better now. If you fit into one of these categories, I don't mean to offend you, but I still mean what I say. I'm by no means perfect, and I'll happily read your rants about my behavior if you'd like.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Playlist for 4/25/11
- Sarge - "Beguiling"
- Placebo - "Bionic"
- Jimmy Eat World - "Goodbye Sky Harbor"
- Pinback - "Penelope"
- The New Pornographers - "Letter From An Occupant"
- Dance Hall Crashers - "He Wants Me Back"
- UnSun - "The Last Tears"
- Taking Back Sunday - "Set Phasers to Stun"
- No Knife - "Parting Shot"
- Santigold - "You'll Find A Way"
- Cassettes Won't Listen - "Freeze and Explode"
- Ween - "Mutilated Lips"
- Liz Phair - "Fuck and Run"
- Felix da Housecat - "Everyone Is Someone In L.A."
- The Format - "Swans"
- The Spinto Band - "Oh Mandy"
- In This Moment - "Standing Alone"
- Del tha Funkee Homosapien - "Catch A Bad One"
- Seven Storey Mountain - "Politician"
- Nada Surf - "Bad Best Friend"
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Seven Deadly Sins
Yesterday, Bill and I spent the day with our friends Michelle and Eric. One of the many topics that came up was the Seven Deadly Sins, or, as Bill calls them, the Seven Paths to Happiness. Of course, he's being facetious (I think) when he says that. While I don't think they are really a key to happiness, I think they are a key to human nature. We all possess them in some measure. How you handle them defines some part of you. We were asking ourselves which of the sins best embodies us. So I'm going to list the "sins" and talk about how each of them is a part of me.
Now, before I do this, please understand that while I am referring to them as sins, I don't actually believe in the concept of sin. I don't believe in an afterlife with a punishment/reward scenario. So, I've removed the religious aspects of the definitions of these traits as I apply them to my own life and behavior. I see these "sins" as natural components of a person, and, like so many things, they are fine in moderation. It's only when it begins to dominate your life and interactions that it becomes a problem. But even then, it's not a sin. The repercussions are generally far more immediate than something that happens after you die. You'll be brought to task by the consequences of your actions, or by friends and family disowning you...
I wasn't sure which order I should put them in, so I went with alphabetical. Here goes:
ENVY
Envy is a part of my life. I fully admit that. It's not my "defining" sin, but it's up there. In my defense, I don't take it to the extreme of wanting to see people I envy brought low. Generally speaking, most of the people I envy are people I like, or people I don't know at all. I'm envious of people with musical talent. I've always wanted to be a musician. I used to fantasize and daydream about being a rock star. But while I was listening to music and daydreaming it was me on stage performing, other people were out actually learning an instrument.
So, I've only got myself to blame on that one. But that doesn't stop me evnying people like my brother, who taught himself bass and guitar because the desire to create music was so strong in him. I envy friends and family that have found jobs they love, or have the money to do all the things I want to do. I never resent them for this, I'm just kind of jealous. I'm jealous of people with artistic talent of any kind, and of people who don't want for inspiration when they endeavor to create.
So envy is definitely one of my defining characteristics. I try not to let it get out of hand, but I can't help but judge my own life against the lives of others, and sometimes I'm disappointed by the conclusions I draw.
GLUTTONY
Well, this is certainly a big one for me. Not the biggest, but probably the second biggest. I definitely am an overeater. Food is a source of more than just nutrition. It's a favorite subject to talk about. It's a comforting action. It's something to do when you're bored. It's a way to express your love of someone else. I sometimes think I'll always be overweight, because I just can't seem to resist the urge to eat. One of my favorite pastimes is to look through cookbooks and recipe websites and just try to imagine how those things would taste.
I could stand to lose some weight. Not because I hate the way I look, because I really don't. But I would like to not be winded from walking up a flight of stairs. I'd like to come home from a day out without my feet, knees, and back aching so badly that it discourages me from any further exertion. The problem is that they keep making food so...tasty.
GREED
Those who know me should be unsurprised that this is the sin I most embody. I love material things. When we were out with Michelle at various stores, including Best Buy, I found literally thousands of dollars worth of things I wanted. I'm sure most people want things that they can't have. But for me, it creates almost a physical ache of longing. When I saw the Nintendo 3DS in action, I think I audibly moaned. I had been skeptical of it's ability to render glasses-free 3-D. But when I saw how awesomely it delivered on my expectations, I knew I had to have one. I also saw a better HDTV, the Google TV system, dozens of video games, and all other manner of gadgets that I simply had to have. Even now, the next day, I can't stop thinking of all the things I want.
The negative way this affects me is that I am just terrible with money. I'm filled with greed, so when I have money, I tend to spend it foolishly. You could quadruple my salary, and I'd still have the same pittance at the end of the week. It really is true that the more you get, the more you want. It can't be helped. When we were saving up for our computer, it took Bill to snap me out of the ever-escalating insanity of want. We had enough to get a computer, but I thought "well, only $100 more and we can upgrade this..." Then we get the $100 and I start thinking, "oh, but for $200 more we can get this..." It's a neverending spiral of wanting more and more. Thankfully, Bill snapped me out of it, and we got a computer that we really like, and it's more than sufficient for our needs.
As a lifelong gamer, this is probably going to be a defining characteristic of mine until the day I die. Sad, but true. Still, there are worse sins to give in to.
LUST
There are some people, maybe those who knew me in college, or the people who knew me when I managed the porn store, who will think this is my biggest aspect. And don't get me wrong. I love pornography. I like the idea of it. I like the fantasy of it. And, when you couple my compulsive collecting and organizing behavior patterns with a love of porn, it can mean lots of lost evenings of sorting through sordid galleries of smut, for sure. But, believe it or not, I'm not sex-obsessed. I'd place lust somewhere in the middle in terms of prevalence in my life. It's not all I think about, and I'm not constantly thinking of the next time I have sex, or dwelling on the last time either.
Of course, there are those who think just looking at or downloading pornographic videos or pictures makes you a sick, lustful pervert. I happily, unreservedly disagree. Porn is healthy. Sexual hangups are the real problem. People need to lighten up.
PRIDE
I think this is the sin I least embody. Everyone can be excessively proud, but it certainly isn't the norm for me. If anything, I see myself as hopelessly mundane. That's why envy is so high up in my list. But if I'm to be completely honest with myself, there are definitely times when I see myself as better than other people. I try really hard to curtail those feelings though, because this can be one of the most harmful of these traits. I've noticed it the most when discussing religion with people. I have such a hard time understanding why someone would believe what I consider to be utterly ludicrous. So, the darkest part of me feels superior to believers, because I've had the strength of mind and reason to see through the lies of religion.
Another aspect of myself that I tie into pride is how much I love being praised. Maybe I just need validation. But when people talk about how good I am at my job, or how knowledgeable I am about a subject, I get such a charge out of it. Like most people, I'm prone to getting a big head with too much praise.
Despite all that, though, I don't see as much of this in me as the other sins.
SLOTH
Oh man, am I ever lazy. I will take the path of least resistance every single time. I'm predictable that way. If I didn't have to work, I wouldn't. This is why a large portion of my daydreams center in some way around me and Bill winning the lottery or finding some other way out of an ordinary life and it's ordinary responsibilities. When people tell me things like "if I won the lottery, I'd still have to work, or I'd get bored," I just scoff. To me, a worthwhile day would begin with sleeping in. I can be perfectly content surfing the internet, playing video games, or listening to music. I hate work. Even when I like my job, I hate having to go to work. There's so much I'd rather (not) be doing right now.
It's depressing, and sometimes a little bit funny, how often I'll say things like "tomorrow I'll start exercising." Or "this weekend let's do a deep cleaning of the apartment." These things never happen, because even the thought of doing them is exhausting. At work, I've skipped taking a break just because it meant I'd have to get up and move to another part of the room. How pathetic is that?
I try to find the silver lining though. While being slothful means I don't get anything done, it also affords me less opportunities to mess anything up.
WRATH
Anyone that has heard me when I've suffered some slight by a person on the phone, or in a car while I'm walking, knows that there is no shortage of wrath in me. I sometimes seethe with hatred for hours after one of these incidents, just imagining all the horrible things that could happen to the offending person. Many people have heard me say "die in a fire" or something similar when I feel somewhat put out.
I'm not the type to act out this anger physically. For one thing, I'm a weakling. If I acted upon my wrathful urgings, I'd find myself on my ass more often than not. But hateful thoughts? Yeah, I've got that in spades. And maybe it's with a touch of pride that I say I have a witty and particularly sharp tongue. If you've wronged me, I may envision your death, but the revenge I carry out is usually to make you cry. You can laugh if you want, but I've done it before. Am I proud of that? Well, yeah, a little. I know it's wrong, but when that curtain of seething red rage passes over my eyes, I just don't care if your feelings are hurt. In fact, I see it as justice.
So, there you have it. I have to admit I'm a bit surprised. Before I really started thinking about it, I felt like I didn't have Pride or Wrath at all. But, if you look at the spectrum of the so-called deadly sins, I shine like a star right in the middle of them all. But don't be too shocked or smug, you probably do too.
Now, before I do this, please understand that while I am referring to them as sins, I don't actually believe in the concept of sin. I don't believe in an afterlife with a punishment/reward scenario. So, I've removed the religious aspects of the definitions of these traits as I apply them to my own life and behavior. I see these "sins" as natural components of a person, and, like so many things, they are fine in moderation. It's only when it begins to dominate your life and interactions that it becomes a problem. But even then, it's not a sin. The repercussions are generally far more immediate than something that happens after you die. You'll be brought to task by the consequences of your actions, or by friends and family disowning you...
I wasn't sure which order I should put them in, so I went with alphabetical. Here goes:
ENVY
Envy is a part of my life. I fully admit that. It's not my "defining" sin, but it's up there. In my defense, I don't take it to the extreme of wanting to see people I envy brought low. Generally speaking, most of the people I envy are people I like, or people I don't know at all. I'm envious of people with musical talent. I've always wanted to be a musician. I used to fantasize and daydream about being a rock star. But while I was listening to music and daydreaming it was me on stage performing, other people were out actually learning an instrument.
So, I've only got myself to blame on that one. But that doesn't stop me evnying people like my brother, who taught himself bass and guitar because the desire to create music was so strong in him. I envy friends and family that have found jobs they love, or have the money to do all the things I want to do. I never resent them for this, I'm just kind of jealous. I'm jealous of people with artistic talent of any kind, and of people who don't want for inspiration when they endeavor to create.
So envy is definitely one of my defining characteristics. I try not to let it get out of hand, but I can't help but judge my own life against the lives of others, and sometimes I'm disappointed by the conclusions I draw.
GLUTTONY
Well, this is certainly a big one for me. Not the biggest, but probably the second biggest. I definitely am an overeater. Food is a source of more than just nutrition. It's a favorite subject to talk about. It's a comforting action. It's something to do when you're bored. It's a way to express your love of someone else. I sometimes think I'll always be overweight, because I just can't seem to resist the urge to eat. One of my favorite pastimes is to look through cookbooks and recipe websites and just try to imagine how those things would taste.
I could stand to lose some weight. Not because I hate the way I look, because I really don't. But I would like to not be winded from walking up a flight of stairs. I'd like to come home from a day out without my feet, knees, and back aching so badly that it discourages me from any further exertion. The problem is that they keep making food so...tasty.
GREED
Those who know me should be unsurprised that this is the sin I most embody. I love material things. When we were out with Michelle at various stores, including Best Buy, I found literally thousands of dollars worth of things I wanted. I'm sure most people want things that they can't have. But for me, it creates almost a physical ache of longing. When I saw the Nintendo 3DS in action, I think I audibly moaned. I had been skeptical of it's ability to render glasses-free 3-D. But when I saw how awesomely it delivered on my expectations, I knew I had to have one. I also saw a better HDTV, the Google TV system, dozens of video games, and all other manner of gadgets that I simply had to have. Even now, the next day, I can't stop thinking of all the things I want.
The negative way this affects me is that I am just terrible with money. I'm filled with greed, so when I have money, I tend to spend it foolishly. You could quadruple my salary, and I'd still have the same pittance at the end of the week. It really is true that the more you get, the more you want. It can't be helped. When we were saving up for our computer, it took Bill to snap me out of the ever-escalating insanity of want. We had enough to get a computer, but I thought "well, only $100 more and we can upgrade this..." Then we get the $100 and I start thinking, "oh, but for $200 more we can get this..." It's a neverending spiral of wanting more and more. Thankfully, Bill snapped me out of it, and we got a computer that we really like, and it's more than sufficient for our needs.
As a lifelong gamer, this is probably going to be a defining characteristic of mine until the day I die. Sad, but true. Still, there are worse sins to give in to.
LUST
There are some people, maybe those who knew me in college, or the people who knew me when I managed the porn store, who will think this is my biggest aspect. And don't get me wrong. I love pornography. I like the idea of it. I like the fantasy of it. And, when you couple my compulsive collecting and organizing behavior patterns with a love of porn, it can mean lots of lost evenings of sorting through sordid galleries of smut, for sure. But, believe it or not, I'm not sex-obsessed. I'd place lust somewhere in the middle in terms of prevalence in my life. It's not all I think about, and I'm not constantly thinking of the next time I have sex, or dwelling on the last time either.
Of course, there are those who think just looking at or downloading pornographic videos or pictures makes you a sick, lustful pervert. I happily, unreservedly disagree. Porn is healthy. Sexual hangups are the real problem. People need to lighten up.
PRIDE
I think this is the sin I least embody. Everyone can be excessively proud, but it certainly isn't the norm for me. If anything, I see myself as hopelessly mundane. That's why envy is so high up in my list. But if I'm to be completely honest with myself, there are definitely times when I see myself as better than other people. I try really hard to curtail those feelings though, because this can be one of the most harmful of these traits. I've noticed it the most when discussing religion with people. I have such a hard time understanding why someone would believe what I consider to be utterly ludicrous. So, the darkest part of me feels superior to believers, because I've had the strength of mind and reason to see through the lies of religion.
Another aspect of myself that I tie into pride is how much I love being praised. Maybe I just need validation. But when people talk about how good I am at my job, or how knowledgeable I am about a subject, I get such a charge out of it. Like most people, I'm prone to getting a big head with too much praise.
Despite all that, though, I don't see as much of this in me as the other sins.
SLOTH
Oh man, am I ever lazy. I will take the path of least resistance every single time. I'm predictable that way. If I didn't have to work, I wouldn't. This is why a large portion of my daydreams center in some way around me and Bill winning the lottery or finding some other way out of an ordinary life and it's ordinary responsibilities. When people tell me things like "if I won the lottery, I'd still have to work, or I'd get bored," I just scoff. To me, a worthwhile day would begin with sleeping in. I can be perfectly content surfing the internet, playing video games, or listening to music. I hate work. Even when I like my job, I hate having to go to work. There's so much I'd rather (not) be doing right now.
It's depressing, and sometimes a little bit funny, how often I'll say things like "tomorrow I'll start exercising." Or "this weekend let's do a deep cleaning of the apartment." These things never happen, because even the thought of doing them is exhausting. At work, I've skipped taking a break just because it meant I'd have to get up and move to another part of the room. How pathetic is that?
I try to find the silver lining though. While being slothful means I don't get anything done, it also affords me less opportunities to mess anything up.
WRATH
Anyone that has heard me when I've suffered some slight by a person on the phone, or in a car while I'm walking, knows that there is no shortage of wrath in me. I sometimes seethe with hatred for hours after one of these incidents, just imagining all the horrible things that could happen to the offending person. Many people have heard me say "die in a fire" or something similar when I feel somewhat put out.
I'm not the type to act out this anger physically. For one thing, I'm a weakling. If I acted upon my wrathful urgings, I'd find myself on my ass more often than not. But hateful thoughts? Yeah, I've got that in spades. And maybe it's with a touch of pride that I say I have a witty and particularly sharp tongue. If you've wronged me, I may envision your death, but the revenge I carry out is usually to make you cry. You can laugh if you want, but I've done it before. Am I proud of that? Well, yeah, a little. I know it's wrong, but when that curtain of seething red rage passes over my eyes, I just don't care if your feelings are hurt. In fact, I see it as justice.
So, there you have it. I have to admit I'm a bit surprised. Before I really started thinking about it, I felt like I didn't have Pride or Wrath at all. But, if you look at the spectrum of the so-called deadly sins, I shine like a star right in the middle of them all. But don't be too shocked or smug, you probably do too.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Why I'm not wearing green today.
Please don't pinch me, but I'm just not a fan of this day. I haven't worn green on St. Patrick's Day (intentionally, that is) for quite a few years now. I realize many different people celebrate this day for many different reasons. But when people ask me why I'm not wearing green, I usually find a slew of reasons to give them. Here are a few:
1. I'm Irish year round. This day isn't for me, it's for the non-Irish. So, have fun with it, but I don't need a day set aside for being Irish. I can wear that Kiss Me I'm Irish pin year round without shame.
2. I'm wearing orange. I'm flying as much Irish flag as you are, really. I do have some pride in and affinity with my Irish heritage. So, it doesn't bother me to identify with it. But the whole green thing is a bit to sheople-ish for my taste.
3. Celebrating being Irish is one thing. Celebrating a religious figure is quite another. Especially when the "snakes" that religious figure drove from Ireland were pagans. Using your juggernaut of a church to roll over the beliefs of an indigenous people and mass-converting them isn't really the sort of thing I want to celebrate.
4. I can't stand drunks. And I don't like "drinking holidays." That means New Years Eve and Independence Day are out too. And Memorial Day. These are all thinly veiled excuses for people to get blind stinking drunk during the day. And then I have to walk amongst them as I go to and from work. It all just drives me crazy. Whether it's the benignly stupid "WOOOHOOO" or the maliciously drunken insults hurled from cars, it annoys me. Seeing people that can barely walk stumble around like idiots sounds funny on the surface, but it's just a whole wealth of problems waiting to happen.
5. Drunk drivers. This goes hand in hand with number four. Sure, a lot of people will take a taxi. But a lot won't. Drunk drivers are selfish, dangerous people. Being a pedestrian, I feel especially vulnerable walking home from work on days like today. All because of a drinking holiday. How many casualties will there be this year?
So, that's why I don't celebrate this holiday, or even wear green. But I don't begrudge other people having their fun. I just hope they do it responsibly. Get a taxi. Don't get into fights. And please for the love of everything you hold dear, don't hurl insults at passersby, especially if it's me.
Be safe.
1. I'm Irish year round. This day isn't for me, it's for the non-Irish. So, have fun with it, but I don't need a day set aside for being Irish. I can wear that Kiss Me I'm Irish pin year round without shame.
2. I'm wearing orange. I'm flying as much Irish flag as you are, really. I do have some pride in and affinity with my Irish heritage. So, it doesn't bother me to identify with it. But the whole green thing is a bit to sheople-ish for my taste.
3. Celebrating being Irish is one thing. Celebrating a religious figure is quite another. Especially when the "snakes" that religious figure drove from Ireland were pagans. Using your juggernaut of a church to roll over the beliefs of an indigenous people and mass-converting them isn't really the sort of thing I want to celebrate.
4. I can't stand drunks. And I don't like "drinking holidays." That means New Years Eve and Independence Day are out too. And Memorial Day. These are all thinly veiled excuses for people to get blind stinking drunk during the day. And then I have to walk amongst them as I go to and from work. It all just drives me crazy. Whether it's the benignly stupid "WOOOHOOO" or the maliciously drunken insults hurled from cars, it annoys me. Seeing people that can barely walk stumble around like idiots sounds funny on the surface, but it's just a whole wealth of problems waiting to happen.
5. Drunk drivers. This goes hand in hand with number four. Sure, a lot of people will take a taxi. But a lot won't. Drunk drivers are selfish, dangerous people. Being a pedestrian, I feel especially vulnerable walking home from work on days like today. All because of a drinking holiday. How many casualties will there be this year?
So, that's why I don't celebrate this holiday, or even wear green. But I don't begrudge other people having their fun. I just hope they do it responsibly. Get a taxi. Don't get into fights. And please for the love of everything you hold dear, don't hurl insults at passersby, especially if it's me.
Be safe.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Here I come to save the day...
I think if you were a superhero, the hardest part would be coming up with a nice catchphrase. Well, that and the super-tights. I think we'd need a special kind of superhero just to rescue people from that sight.
Growing up, I was really into comic books. I wasn't a collector, because I took them out of the plastic slipcovers and read the comics. But I was definitely a fan. The idea of having powers or abilities other people didn't have was pretty alluring. Eventually, I quit buying comics, because the habit got pretty expensive. But I remained fascinated with the stories, hooked on the characters.
So, it should come as little surprise that one of my favorite daydreams is to think of what powers I would want, and what I would do with them if I had them. And that's what I'll do here, in no particular order.
1. Cyberkinesis - This is the manipulation and control of computers and electronics. It would be handy, if not for any other reason, just because I'm so bad with computers. It'd be nice to be able to make computers do what I want. The first thing I'd do is go to the casino and get myself a jackpot on a progressive slot machine. You gotta have cash flow. Then it's on to the corporations. Time for a major fleecing, I think. You can really see how small a step it is from vigilante to criminal...
2. Teleportation - I sometimes get depressed because it seems as if I'll never get to see the world. Tickets to just about anywhere are prohibitively expensive. And then you need to have money to stay in a hotel, see the sights, pay for meals, and go shopping. And you have to have enough vacation time from work to go in the first place. But if you could instantly teleport anywhere in the world, you wouldn't have to pay for air fare, you could still sleep at home in your own bed, and you could even bypass the need for entry fees in most places. And, if you don't care about local cuisine, you could eat at home too. And who cares if you have vacation time? Just go on a weekend off.
3. Invisibility - I'd be lying if I pretended I wouldn't use this for perverted ends. NFL Locker rooms... I never claimed to be pure.
Growing up, I was really into comic books. I wasn't a collector, because I took them out of the plastic slipcovers and read the comics. But I was definitely a fan. The idea of having powers or abilities other people didn't have was pretty alluring. Eventually, I quit buying comics, because the habit got pretty expensive. But I remained fascinated with the stories, hooked on the characters.
So, it should come as little surprise that one of my favorite daydreams is to think of what powers I would want, and what I would do with them if I had them. And that's what I'll do here, in no particular order.
1. Cyberkinesis - This is the manipulation and control of computers and electronics. It would be handy, if not for any other reason, just because I'm so bad with computers. It'd be nice to be able to make computers do what I want. The first thing I'd do is go to the casino and get myself a jackpot on a progressive slot machine. You gotta have cash flow. Then it's on to the corporations. Time for a major fleecing, I think. You can really see how small a step it is from vigilante to criminal...
2. Teleportation - I sometimes get depressed because it seems as if I'll never get to see the world. Tickets to just about anywhere are prohibitively expensive. And then you need to have money to stay in a hotel, see the sights, pay for meals, and go shopping. And you have to have enough vacation time from work to go in the first place. But if you could instantly teleport anywhere in the world, you wouldn't have to pay for air fare, you could still sleep at home in your own bed, and you could even bypass the need for entry fees in most places. And, if you don't care about local cuisine, you could eat at home too. And who cares if you have vacation time? Just go on a weekend off.
3. Invisibility - I'd be lying if I pretended I wouldn't use this for perverted ends. NFL Locker rooms... I never claimed to be pure.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Obsessions
It seems like I'm in a constant state of want. Every time we get caught up in our bills, rather than save any extra money we may have, we instead blow it on games. Of course, that's part of what I'm working for. Sure, I work so that we can have a place to live, food to eat, heat or A/C and all the necessities of life. But I also work so that we can have the little luxuries that make life just a little bit better.
So, here is a list of my current obsessions. I won't rest until we have them.
1. The Nintendo DSi
This little handheld system is my primary obsession. Like the standard DS, t
his one is a clamshell, with two screens, and touchscreen technology. It's Wi-Fi enabled, has an SD card slot, and has the ability to download games and DLC from the DSi store. It also has two cameras: the one on the inside enables picture chatting, and the one on the outside to take pictures at 3.0 Megapixel resolution. And, while it does not enable retro-compatibility with GameBoy Advance titles, like the standard DS, it does have enhanced features for certain DS games. I want it. Now.
2. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (PS3)
I downloaded the demo from the PSN for this game yesterday, and I was suitably impressed. It was developed by Raven Software, the people behind the X-Men Legends series and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, so they have experience bringing Marvel characters to life. The gameplay was intuitive and ridiculously fun. My favorite move is the lunge attack, which allows you to make flying leaps over long distances to take down enemies. I loved how brutally visceral the game felt. For the first time ever, Wolverine is unleashed, and the result is bloody, gory, and insanely fun. In previous games, either the blood was toned down or altogether absent, or Wolvie is doomed to take on wave after wave of bloodless robots. I can't wait to get this game and maybe give a full review.
3. A 1 Terabyte external HD
I don't have a picture of this one, because I haven't yet decided which one I'll be getting. I still have to do my comparison shopping, reading specs, and researching product reviews. All I know is that I want one. I've had more than a few people suggest that I don't need that much storage. But the way I see it, why not just buy one, and you should never have to buy another one. I'd like to have the room to back up the PS3. I would put all our pictures and videos and digital movies on there. And I...er... have a lot of porn. And, of course, Bill and I listen to a lot of music. I intend to have mixes for different themes and moods that I can swap onto my PSP at will. Will I use up the entire 1 Terabyte? Probably not. But I'd like to try.
So, here is a list of my current obsessions. I won't rest until we have them.
1. The Nintendo DSi
This little handheld system is my primary obsession. Like the standard DS, t
his one is a clamshell, with two screens, and touchscreen technology. It's Wi-Fi enabled, has an SD card slot, and has the ability to download games and DLC from the DSi store. It also has two cameras: the one on the inside enables picture chatting, and the one on the outside to take pictures at 3.0 Megapixel resolution. And, while it does not enable retro-compatibility with GameBoy Advance titles, like the standard DS, it does have enhanced features for certain DS games. I want it. Now.2. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (PS3)
I downloaded the demo from the PSN for this game yesterday, and I was suitably impressed. It was developed by Raven Software, the people behind the X-Men Legends series and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, so they have experience bringing Marvel characters to life. The gameplay was intuitive and ridiculously fun. My favorite move is the lunge attack, which allows you to make flying leaps over long distances to take down enemies. I loved how brutally visceral the game felt. For the first time ever, Wolverine is unleashed, and the result is bloody, gory, and insanely fun. In previous games, either the blood was toned down or altogether absent, or Wolvie is doomed to take on wave after wave of bloodless robots. I can't wait to get this game and maybe give a full review.
3. A 1 Terabyte external HD
I don't have a picture of this one, because I haven't yet decided which one I'll be getting. I still have to do my comparison shopping, reading specs, and researching product reviews. All I know is that I want one. I've had more than a few people suggest that I don't need that much storage. But the way I see it, why not just buy one, and you should never have to buy another one. I'd like to have the room to back up the PS3. I would put all our pictures and videos and digital movies on there. And I...er... have a lot of porn. And, of course, Bill and I listen to a lot of music. I intend to have mixes for different themes and moods that I can swap onto my PSP at will. Will I use up the entire 1 Terabyte? Probably not. But I'd like to try.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Top 5 Greatest Covers
Some people love them. Some people hate them. I've always been pretty solidly in column A. I think a well-chosen cover can be a nice endcap to an album, or a good energy builder at a live show. I like hearing a new take on an old theme. Some covers are very faithful. Some take so many liberties you can barely recognize the original song. And some are hilarious send-ups of the source material. But I'm guaranteed to give a band a shot if I see they've covered a song I love. It shows at the very least that they might have similar taste in music, so that common gruond may lead to appreciation for the band itself.
So, here is my top 5 (of the moment) cover songs.
1. Jimmy Eat World - New Religion (Duran Duran)
This song was on the Duran Duran tribute album, released in 1997. This is one of my favorite tribute albums, consisting mainly of punk, emo, and ska bands doing renditions of the most popular Duran Duran songs. As Duran Duran was my favorite band when I was a kid, and because I've always loved a cover song, I picked this CD up the moment I discovered it. It led me to quite a few bands: Home Grown, Riverfenix (later renamed Fenix TX), and the Wrens. But the best thing it did for me was introduce me to the band that remains a favorite to this day. Jimmy Eat World became an obsession after hearing their dramatic interpretation of one of my favorite Duran Duran songs. This one definitely falls into the category of "taking liberties", as the song is barely recognizable. Some of the lyrics are there, and a few intonations of the melody, but that's about it. JEW's version is an emo masterpiece, back when emo was about raw emotion, rather than mewling schoolchildren cutting themselves for attention. I still get chills at the screaming, emotional crescendo of the song. Brilliant.
This song led me to search everywhere for a full album from the band. I placed special orders, asked my friends, and pestered the record stores for any information until I finally had "Static Prevails" in my hands. I figured, anyone who could grab me with a cover had to have engaging original material as well. And I wasn't disappointed. "Static Prevails" remains one of my favorite albums of all time.
2. sELF - What A Fool Believes (The Doobie Brothers)
This is a remarkably faithful cover, considering it was recorded entirely with toy instruments. From sELF's fourth album, Gizmodgery (2000), this song is a quirky, fun interpretation of a classic Doobie Brothers tune. The song is actually very straightforward, lacking a lot of the wacky interludes for which sELF is known. Matt Mahaffey (the primary creative force behind the band) stays very true to the source material. But he still puts his individual stamp on the song, with his quirky, jangly keyboards, and the arrangement of toy instruments injects the song with childlike fascination and exuberance. sELF is known for wearing their influences on their sleeve, and they proudly declare their influences in the form of covers. They've reinterpreted songs from Liz Phair, Prince, They Might Be Giants, Depeche Mode, and Failure. But this one is absolutely my favorite.
3. Reel Big Fish - Take On Me (a-ha)
For me this was a real dilemma. I knew I wanted Reel Big Fish on this list. But would I choose this song, or their lounge version of Duran Duran's "Hungry Like the Wolf?" In the end I chose this song, because the latter was funny, but lacked substance beyond the novelty of the song. "Take On Me" is another faithful interpretation of the original, but it's injected with the humor that RBF deliver on their original material. Singer Aaron Barrett can deliver a comic twist simply by changing the inflection of his voice, and he does so frequently with this song. The song appeared in the movie BASEketball (1998), and despite how seriously a-ha took the song, it's delivered with a manic energy and humor that fits right in with the movie.
4. The Sundays - Wild Horses (Rolling Stones)
I've always felt that the Rolling Stones wrote some great songs, but I never liked the way they performed them. Weird, I know, and I'm sure purists and fanatics would have something to say about that. But I just prefer their songs when other bands are performing them. I was down to two choices here. I almost went with Jane's Addiction's take on "Sympathy," but in the end, Harriet Wheeler's angelic voice won out. Jangly, sugary guitars and ethereal vocals combine to make this one of the most beautiful renditions of a Stones song, ever. It's from the Sunday's second album, Blind, and it perfectly rounds out an altogether beautiful album.
5. Marilyn Manson - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (Eurhythmics)
I know this one would probably draw plenty of sneers and scoffing from the music snobs and industry elite, but Mr. Manson has taken an iconic song of the 80s and turned it into a creepy, evil fantasmagoria. From the "Smells Like Children" ep, the song sounds as if it was lifted directly from his own nightmares, replete with hellish moaning and wailing, discordant guitars, and sinister growls. Yet, through it all the integrity of the original remains intact. Despite all the trappings, it's a pretty faithful interpretation.
4. The Sundays - Wild Horses (Rolling Stones)
I've always felt that the Rolling Stones wrote some great songs, but I never liked the way they performed them. Weird, I know, and I'm sure purists and fanatics would have something to say about that. But I just prefer their songs when other bands are performing them. I was down to two choices here. I almost went with Jane's Addiction's take on "Sympathy," but in the end, Harriet Wheeler's angelic voice won out. Jangly, sugary guitars and ethereal vocals combine to make this one of the most beautiful renditions of a Stones song, ever. It's from the Sunday's second album, Blind, and it perfectly rounds out an altogether beautiful album.
5. Marilyn Manson - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (Eurhythmics)
I know this one would probably draw plenty of sneers and scoffing from the music snobs and industry elite, but Mr. Manson has taken an iconic song of the 80s and turned it into a creepy, evil fantasmagoria. From the "Smells Like Children" ep, the song sounds as if it was lifted directly from his own nightmares, replete with hellish moaning and wailing, discordant guitars, and sinister growls. Yet, through it all the integrity of the original remains intact. Despite all the trappings, it's a pretty faithful interpretation.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
5 Bands who need to put out a new album
Like, now.
1. Brandtson - Supposedly, they were going to release Turn Me On Dead Man in July of last year (I believe). Since then, there has been no activity on the website. This is one of my favorite bands of all time, and I was interested in seeing where they'd go next. Their last album had some great songs on it, but it was such a departure from their previous sound that I was intrigued to see where they'll go next. I'm afraid I'll never find out. I fear the dreaded band breakup.
2. The Wrens - The Meadowlands was a wonderful album. And I've always been enamored with the quirkiness and inventiveness of this band. It's been a few years since their last release. It's time. I'm always wanting more. They are supposedly writing and recording for a new release, but I'm just really impatient. Also, that doesn't always mean there'll be a release. See above.
3. The Sundays - I would love to be able to hear Harriet Wheeler singing something new and delicious. Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic still stands out as one of my essential albums of the 90s. I like to kid myself into believing that they'll soon end their extended hiatus and release something new. After all, there was two years between the first and the second, and five years between the second and third albums. So, keeping that progression in mind, the next one should drop sometime this year or the next...
4. Iron Maiden - They're gods of melodic heavy metal. You can learn more history from a Maiden song than from paying attention in school. Their epics can sustain you for the length of two-and-a-half songs from other bands. It's been a couple years since A Matter of Life and Death was released. I think Iron Maiden needs to stop resting on its laurels while releasing Greatest Hits after Greatest Hits. I know they're getting up there in age, but I'm confident they've got at least three more albums in them, and I'd like to hear one now, please.
5. No Knife - My friend Ed introduced me to this band when I first started working at the porn store back at the end of 1996. He played Drunk on the Moon, and I was hooked. The harmonies, the quirky arrangements, the catchy hooks, and Mitch Wilson's voice just grabbed me right out the gate. And every subsequent release showed growth as a band, and a willingness to experiment. Then they broke up, after releasing four albums. But when I heard they were opening for Jimmy Eat World, I got excited. If they can reunite for a tour, they can certainly get in the studio and release a new album. And I need a new album from these guys.
1. Brandtson - Supposedly, they were going to release Turn Me On Dead Man in July of last year (I believe). Since then, there has been no activity on the website. This is one of my favorite bands of all time, and I was interested in seeing where they'd go next. Their last album had some great songs on it, but it was such a departure from their previous sound that I was intrigued to see where they'll go next. I'm afraid I'll never find out. I fear the dreaded band breakup.
2. The Wrens - The Meadowlands was a wonderful album. And I've always been enamored with the quirkiness and inventiveness of this band. It's been a few years since their last release. It's time. I'm always wanting more. They are supposedly writing and recording for a new release, but I'm just really impatient. Also, that doesn't always mean there'll be a release. See above.
3. The Sundays - I would love to be able to hear Harriet Wheeler singing something new and delicious. Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic still stands out as one of my essential albums of the 90s. I like to kid myself into believing that they'll soon end their extended hiatus and release something new. After all, there was two years between the first and the second, and five years between the second and third albums. So, keeping that progression in mind, the next one should drop sometime this year or the next...
4. Iron Maiden - They're gods of melodic heavy metal. You can learn more history from a Maiden song than from paying attention in school. Their epics can sustain you for the length of two-and-a-half songs from other bands. It's been a couple years since A Matter of Life and Death was released. I think Iron Maiden needs to stop resting on its laurels while releasing Greatest Hits after Greatest Hits. I know they're getting up there in age, but I'm confident they've got at least three more albums in them, and I'd like to hear one now, please.
5. No Knife - My friend Ed introduced me to this band when I first started working at the porn store back at the end of 1996. He played Drunk on the Moon, and I was hooked. The harmonies, the quirky arrangements, the catchy hooks, and Mitch Wilson's voice just grabbed me right out the gate. And every subsequent release showed growth as a band, and a willingness to experiment. Then they broke up, after releasing four albums. But when I heard they were opening for Jimmy Eat World, I got excited. If they can reunite for a tour, they can certainly get in the studio and release a new album. And I need a new album from these guys.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
List of things I don't care about
1. The economy. I know I probably should care about it, but I don't. I guess I just don't have the level of understanding that other people have. Or maybe it's because I was poor, living paycheck to paycheck before the economic crisis. And I don't have a car, so I really can't even complain about fluctuating gas prices (which seem to have calmed a bit anyway).
2. Politics. I have such a hard time even getting two sentences into any news report about politics. It's just so boring. While the last presidential race was stirring up emotions everywhere, I found myself, as ever, coolly indifferent. And when Obama's win galvanized the nation, I just can't muster that kind of enthusiasm.
3. Your opinion. This is specifically in reaction to your opinion of point number two. My opinion about politics is just that: MY opinion. You don't have to like it. You don't have to agree with me. You don't even have to be quiet about it. Comment on it, tell me what you think. But don't be put off by my indifference. Of course, point three isn't solely regarding politics. I think it's important to just be okay with being yourself. Nothing more, nothing less. So, if you don't like that I shave my head or have tattooes, if you think the music I listen to is crap, or if there's anything I love that you hate, you're entitled to your opinion. And I'm entitled to ignore it.
4. The popular news of the day. Whether it's the mom that offs her daughter so she can party unhindered, or the ridiculous caricature of a woman who spawns more children in a day than most families have in a lifetime, I just don't want to hear about it. I hate these news fads. And I hate when people watch them, plastered all over the news, and give opinions or sage observances as if it's even remotely important or necessary. Seriously. Enough. Nancy Grace has enough money, so stop lining her pockets with your ratings.
5. Facebook/MySpace applications. These are the bane of my existence. I can't log on without being overwhelmed with requests to take a quiz, join a mafia, send a fluffy angel bunny egg, and so on, ad nauseam. It's one of the major reasons why I'm spending less and less time on those sites. I just don't care about these things.
OK, I'm done being a curmudgeon now.
2. Politics. I have such a hard time even getting two sentences into any news report about politics. It's just so boring. While the last presidential race was stirring up emotions everywhere, I found myself, as ever, coolly indifferent. And when Obama's win galvanized the nation, I just can't muster that kind of enthusiasm.
3. Your opinion. This is specifically in reaction to your opinion of point number two. My opinion about politics is just that: MY opinion. You don't have to like it. You don't have to agree with me. You don't even have to be quiet about it. Comment on it, tell me what you think. But don't be put off by my indifference. Of course, point three isn't solely regarding politics. I think it's important to just be okay with being yourself. Nothing more, nothing less. So, if you don't like that I shave my head or have tattooes, if you think the music I listen to is crap, or if there's anything I love that you hate, you're entitled to your opinion. And I'm entitled to ignore it.
4. The popular news of the day. Whether it's the mom that offs her daughter so she can party unhindered, or the ridiculous caricature of a woman who spawns more children in a day than most families have in a lifetime, I just don't want to hear about it. I hate these news fads. And I hate when people watch them, plastered all over the news, and give opinions or sage observances as if it's even remotely important or necessary. Seriously. Enough. Nancy Grace has enough money, so stop lining her pockets with your ratings.
5. Facebook/MySpace applications. These are the bane of my existence. I can't log on without being overwhelmed with requests to take a quiz, join a mafia, send a fluffy angel bunny egg, and so on, ad nauseam. It's one of the major reasons why I'm spending less and less time on those sites. I just don't care about these things.
OK, I'm done being a curmudgeon now.
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