Louis Armstrong vs. The Flaming Lips vs. Joey Ramone
My Vote: All three are amazing in their own way.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
My Fiction – Untitled Children’s Fantasy
For the moment I’ve decided to give up on the call center story and concentrate on a children’s fantasy that is at the moment untitled. The story is written in the first person and centers on a girl who learns that she is a witch princess and must deal with that plus eventually she must battle the evil queen, who just so happens to be her mother.
Here is the scene in which Emma is first told that she is a witch. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
___________________________________________
“Me?” the little figure asked. “I’m an elf wizard, couldn’t you tell?” he asked as if I should know. “An elf wizard,” he repeated a bit exasperated by my obvious lack of knowledge on the subject. “Guardian of the Black Cauldron, Watcher of the Silent Gate, teacher of the House of Fordwin?”
I shook my head and said, “I was actually thinking you were British.”
“Oh well, yes…that too I suppose,” he replied with a wave of his hand turning back to his desk.
After a few moments of silence I asked, “An elf huh? Shouldn’t you be taller and living in a forest or something?”
“Oh bloody hell, I hate those books. If I had a pound for every time I had to correct someone because of that Anglo-Saxon hack of an author I could be retired on a beach in Jamaica enjoying a tall glass of lemonade and a fine local cigar,” he muttered to himself looking down at his desk. After a moment and a couple of deep breaths he backed away from whatever it was that he had been so interested in and looked up at me. “Please forgive me my dear, it has been a long day and I have forgotten my manners. It’s not everyday that I save a princess from a howling terror you know. My name is Sir Timothy Dorthenchancer,” he said with a jolly smile and a bow.
“I’m Emma-“
“Emma Washington, oh yes my dear. And today is your 13th birthday.”
“How did you know that?” This was starting to get freaky…okay it was freaky but it didn’t really hit home until the little guy knew my name and my birthday.
“As I said before, I am an elf wizard. It is my job to know these things.” He hoped down from his stool and trotted over to where I was standing. Taking my hand he said, “Come and sit down. Mustn’t have a guest standing around, that wouldn’t be proper at all now would it.” I let the elf lead me to a sofa where we both sat. He must have been barely four feet tall. Now that I was closer and not running for my life, I could make out the points to his ears, eyes, and eyebrows. His nails were long and kind of girly…I wish my nails looked that good, I thought. His hair was grey and on his skin was a hint of wrinkles. If he were a human I’d have guessed him to be in his late 50’s, early 60’s but who knows with an elf. An elf, I thought. I’m sitting next to a flipping elf.
“Care for a spot of tea?”
And he’s British. “No thank you,” I said.
“Well then I guess I’d better get started with the explaining,” he looked off into the distance of a painting on the far wall and then continued. “As I mentioned before I’m an elf. Most humans don’t know that we exist, but we’re not the only things that the regular folks don’t know about, as you can probably imagine after that little run in earlier. There are two parts to this word, the mystical,” he said waving his hand around the room, “and the non-mystical. You my dear are a product of both.” He looked at me and patted my hand in a grandfatherly kind of way. “It’s okay to be confused. This will take some time for you to suss out I’m sure but I will be there to help you through it. This is a long and enchanted journey you are about to undertake and you must be prepared.”
“Hold on a second,” I said pulling my hand away as I stood from the sofa and started to back away from the little elf man. “Long journey? I’m in junior high and I have a test tomorrow.” I started looking around for the door. “You’ve been really nice and all and I appreciate you saving me from that…thing, but I really need to be getting home. My parents are going to be pissed that I’m out this late on a school night as it is without me saying ‘gee mom, I was with Timothy the magic elf’…that’ll go over big time.” Finally I found the door and headed that way.
Sitting calmly where I left him the elf said, “That door won’t take you home my dear.”
I looked back at him and then grabbed the doorknob, opened the door, and stepped outside. After closing the door I turned around and realized that I wasn’t in Indiana anymore. Directly in front of me was a yard with a picket fence, a garden, and wolf on a chain. The wolf looked up at me, licked its jowls, and laid its head back down, closing its eyes. There was a sunset in the distance. The sky was filled with orange and purple. It was like something out of a fairy tale. Beyond the yard was a road leading into a forest with mountains in the distance.
“Beautiful isn’t it?”
I jump at the sound of the elf’s voice.
“Nothing like a sunset in the Others,” he said with a sigh and a smile.
“The Others?” I asked.
“Yes. I hadn’t gotten that far before you jumped up and rushed off. You are in the land of The Others, the world of magic,” he answered. “As I was saying before, there are two worlds that cover this Earth: the world of man and the world of The Others. We occupy the same space but on different levels. If you know how, travel between the worlds is not difficult.”
“I want to go home,” I finally said. This was all way too much.
“Very well then, but I want you to take this with you,” he said holding out his empty hand. After a moment there was a shimmering just above his palm and a book appeared. “This is The Guide. When you are ready, read it. It will answer some of your questions.”
I looked at the book, unsure of what to do.
“Go ahead, it won’t bite, it’s just a book. No harm can come from reading a book now can it?” he asked with a wink of suspicion and smile of secrecy. Dang it…how did he know I loved secrets. I took the book and nodded slowly. “I will open a door to your home. It will place you down the road from your house. Please hurry straight away there. The howler cannot get you once you are in your home. The spell I cast earlier should keep them away for now, but I do not know for home long. Until we meet again, please be cautious.”
He waved his hand and chanted what sounded like Greek. The wind began to pick up and a circle of spinning light appeared. Pointing at the light, the elf stepped aside and I walked through opening.
Here is the scene in which Emma is first told that she is a witch. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
___________________________________________
“Me?” the little figure asked. “I’m an elf wizard, couldn’t you tell?” he asked as if I should know. “An elf wizard,” he repeated a bit exasperated by my obvious lack of knowledge on the subject. “Guardian of the Black Cauldron, Watcher of the Silent Gate, teacher of the House of Fordwin?”
I shook my head and said, “I was actually thinking you were British.”
“Oh well, yes…that too I suppose,” he replied with a wave of his hand turning back to his desk.
After a few moments of silence I asked, “An elf huh? Shouldn’t you be taller and living in a forest or something?”
“Oh bloody hell, I hate those books. If I had a pound for every time I had to correct someone because of that Anglo-Saxon hack of an author I could be retired on a beach in Jamaica enjoying a tall glass of lemonade and a fine local cigar,” he muttered to himself looking down at his desk. After a moment and a couple of deep breaths he backed away from whatever it was that he had been so interested in and looked up at me. “Please forgive me my dear, it has been a long day and I have forgotten my manners. It’s not everyday that I save a princess from a howling terror you know. My name is Sir Timothy Dorthenchancer,” he said with a jolly smile and a bow.
“I’m Emma-“
“Emma Washington, oh yes my dear. And today is your 13th birthday.”
“How did you know that?” This was starting to get freaky…okay it was freaky but it didn’t really hit home until the little guy knew my name and my birthday.
“As I said before, I am an elf wizard. It is my job to know these things.” He hoped down from his stool and trotted over to where I was standing. Taking my hand he said, “Come and sit down. Mustn’t have a guest standing around, that wouldn’t be proper at all now would it.” I let the elf lead me to a sofa where we both sat. He must have been barely four feet tall. Now that I was closer and not running for my life, I could make out the points to his ears, eyes, and eyebrows. His nails were long and kind of girly…I wish my nails looked that good, I thought. His hair was grey and on his skin was a hint of wrinkles. If he were a human I’d have guessed him to be in his late 50’s, early 60’s but who knows with an elf. An elf, I thought. I’m sitting next to a flipping elf.
“Care for a spot of tea?”
And he’s British. “No thank you,” I said.
“Well then I guess I’d better get started with the explaining,” he looked off into the distance of a painting on the far wall and then continued. “As I mentioned before I’m an elf. Most humans don’t know that we exist, but we’re not the only things that the regular folks don’t know about, as you can probably imagine after that little run in earlier. There are two parts to this word, the mystical,” he said waving his hand around the room, “and the non-mystical. You my dear are a product of both.” He looked at me and patted my hand in a grandfatherly kind of way. “It’s okay to be confused. This will take some time for you to suss out I’m sure but I will be there to help you through it. This is a long and enchanted journey you are about to undertake and you must be prepared.”
“Hold on a second,” I said pulling my hand away as I stood from the sofa and started to back away from the little elf man. “Long journey? I’m in junior high and I have a test tomorrow.” I started looking around for the door. “You’ve been really nice and all and I appreciate you saving me from that…thing, but I really need to be getting home. My parents are going to be pissed that I’m out this late on a school night as it is without me saying ‘gee mom, I was with Timothy the magic elf’…that’ll go over big time.” Finally I found the door and headed that way.
Sitting calmly where I left him the elf said, “That door won’t take you home my dear.”
I looked back at him and then grabbed the doorknob, opened the door, and stepped outside. After closing the door I turned around and realized that I wasn’t in Indiana anymore. Directly in front of me was a yard with a picket fence, a garden, and wolf on a chain. The wolf looked up at me, licked its jowls, and laid its head back down, closing its eyes. There was a sunset in the distance. The sky was filled with orange and purple. It was like something out of a fairy tale. Beyond the yard was a road leading into a forest with mountains in the distance.
“Beautiful isn’t it?”
I jump at the sound of the elf’s voice.
“Nothing like a sunset in the Others,” he said with a sigh and a smile.
“The Others?” I asked.
“Yes. I hadn’t gotten that far before you jumped up and rushed off. You are in the land of The Others, the world of magic,” he answered. “As I was saying before, there are two worlds that cover this Earth: the world of man and the world of The Others. We occupy the same space but on different levels. If you know how, travel between the worlds is not difficult.”
“I want to go home,” I finally said. This was all way too much.
“Very well then, but I want you to take this with you,” he said holding out his empty hand. After a moment there was a shimmering just above his palm and a book appeared. “This is The Guide. When you are ready, read it. It will answer some of your questions.”
I looked at the book, unsure of what to do.
“Go ahead, it won’t bite, it’s just a book. No harm can come from reading a book now can it?” he asked with a wink of suspicion and smile of secrecy. Dang it…how did he know I loved secrets. I took the book and nodded slowly. “I will open a door to your home. It will place you down the road from your house. Please hurry straight away there. The howler cannot get you once you are in your home. The spell I cast earlier should keep them away for now, but I do not know for home long. Until we meet again, please be cautious.”
He waved his hand and chanted what sounded like Greek. The wind began to pick up and a circle of spinning light appeared. Pointing at the light, the elf stepped aside and I walked through opening.
Great Band Alert: Blacklist Royals
Hailing from Nashville, TN, the Blacklist Royals are a band that mixes punk rock with the heritage of their home town to create an energetic sound that is fun, danceable, and passionate.
For more information about the band check them out on MySpace.
Here is their song “American Hearts” --
For more information about the band check them out on MySpace.
Here is their song “American Hearts” --
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Video of the Day: Local
"Microvision" by American Boyfriends
Thanks to OklahomaRock.com for posting this video. I totally missed this band and now really regret it. What a great tune!
American Boyfriends from Leah Sharpe on Vimeo.
Thanks to OklahomaRock.com for posting this video. I totally missed this band and now really regret it. What a great tune!
Quote of the Day
"If we wiped out the entire Congress and sent common people who have no political experience, we would get far better results than we have today."--Senator Tom Coburn
The Buzz No More and Tulsa Gets Gen X
OklahomaRock.com is reporting that 94.7 The Buzz has changed formats (again) and is now 94.7 The Brew. I saw a post about this on The Lost Ogle this morning, but at the time the switch was just a rumor. So what had started as an “Alt-Rock” station that changed to an “Active Rock” station has now changed to a butt rock station (otherwise known as “80s-brand Classic Rock”). This town already has two stations that fill this format. Do we really need another?
In related news, Tulsa’s Kool 106.1 switched formats to Gen X Radio. The new station will specialize in hits from the 90s, late 80s, and early 2000s. This format sure has much greater potential than The Brew, but then again it is tailored to my generation.
I’m just thankful that we have 105.3 The Spy back.
In related news, Tulsa’s Kool 106.1 switched formats to Gen X Radio. The new station will specialize in hits from the 90s, late 80s, and early 2000s. This format sure has much greater potential than The Brew, but then again it is tailored to my generation.
I’m just thankful that we have 105.3 The Spy back.
E-Books Outsell Paper on Amazon this Christmas
According to this story, Amazon is reporting that e-books outsold paper book on Christmas day this year. The story also theorizes that the upsurge in sales could have been caused by all of the e-book readers that were given as gifts. It will be interesting to see how these sales compare long-term with paper book sales.
Personally I’m not ready to read my books on a mini-computer device. When I read a book, I want to hold it in my hand, turn the pages, and feel the satisfaction of closing the book once I have finished it. But then again, maybe I’m just old fashioned.
Personally I’m not ready to read my books on a mini-computer device. When I read a book, I want to hold it in my hand, turn the pages, and feel the satisfaction of closing the book once I have finished it. But then again, maybe I’m just old fashioned.
How About TV for Free?
Here is an interesting article on the rise of people getting their TV the old fashioned way…for free. We having been getting our TV for free for quite a few years now and are very satisfied with it. Sure there are some stations on cable that we’d like to get, but not enough to pay $60+ a month for it. Cable/satellite TV is just stupid expensive and not worth it, IMHO.
In the comments section after this story, someone posted a link to this story which outlines the financial woes of different TV stations and networks and even theorizes that free, over-the-air TV could be a thing of the past. Honestly my hope is that more people dump cable and satellite for the free TV, but considering how obsessed people are with their TVs, I doubt that will happen.
In the comments section after this story, someone posted a link to this story which outlines the financial woes of different TV stations and networks and even theorizes that free, over-the-air TV could be a thing of the past. Honestly my hope is that more people dump cable and satellite for the free TV, but considering how obsessed people are with their TVs, I doubt that will happen.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Revolution in Iran
I have to admit that I haven’t been able to keep up with everything going on in Iran, but my thoughts and prayers are with those fighting against the tyranny of the Iranian regime.
Andrew Sullivan’s The Daily Dish has been following the story like crazy, so if you are looking to get caught up with what’s happening that might be a good place to start.
Andrew Sullivan’s The Daily Dish has been following the story like crazy, so if you are looking to get caught up with what’s happening that might be a good place to start.
The Worst Songs of the Decade
At least according to the Village Voice. I have to admit that I kind of like the # 1 song on this list.
Thanks to PunkNews.org for the find.
Thanks to PunkNews.org for the find.
Artist That I Need to Get to Know: Ben Lee
Sometimes I come a across a band or an artist and I realize that I have really missed out on something great and that I need to get to know their music better.
One such artist is Ben Lee (Wikipedia, Official, MySpace). Back in 1995 when he released his solo debut CD, I picked it up and loved it. It was a collection of excellent and smart pop songs that were simple and witty, and heartfelt. After that I lost track of Mr. Lee but it seems that he continued to make some great music.
Once I have some extra money, I’ll be heading down to the record store and picking up Mr. Lee’s catalog. In the mean time we’ve still got these great videos.
One such artist is Ben Lee (Wikipedia, Official, MySpace). Back in 1995 when he released his solo debut CD, I picked it up and loved it. It was a collection of excellent and smart pop songs that were simple and witty, and heartfelt. After that I lost track of Mr. Lee but it seems that he continued to make some great music.
Once I have some extra money, I’ll be heading down to the record store and picking up Mr. Lee’s catalog. In the mean time we’ve still got these great videos.
R.I.P. Alaina Reed Amini
Actress Alaina Reed Amini, best known as Olivia on Sesame Street, died on Thursday. Rest well Alaina.
Does Anyone Else Get Way Too Much Mail?
I am on so many email distribution lists that it is a bit staggering (and I’m sure my load is light compared to others). Today I was looking at an older email that I’d been holding on to and accidentally deleted it. No problem, I thought, just go to the Trash folder and find it. Yeah…easier said than done. I did eventually find the email in question but it took a good 15 to 20 minutes.
While sifting through the Trash bin, I realized how much email I get that I never read. Sure I like getting the update from The Washington Post, but how often do I really read them? Then there are the incessant emails from MoveOn.org that are typically blame fests followed by begging for money. Then there are the ALG and NetRightDaily emails (which I’m not sure how I got signed up for in the first place) that I barely read and the OneNewsNow and AFA emails that often make me angry (but I actually read these).
There’s a part of me that feels like going an canceling my subscriptions to all of these lists, but then I might miss out on those few nuggets that slip through that give me an idea to blog about. What’s a guy to do?
While sifting through the Trash bin, I realized how much email I get that I never read. Sure I like getting the update from The Washington Post, but how often do I really read them? Then there are the incessant emails from MoveOn.org that are typically blame fests followed by begging for money. Then there are the ALG and NetRightDaily emails (which I’m not sure how I got signed up for in the first place) that I barely read and the OneNewsNow and AFA emails that often make me angry (but I actually read these).
There’s a part of me that feels like going an canceling my subscriptions to all of these lists, but then I might miss out on those few nuggets that slip through that give me an idea to blog about. What’s a guy to do?
Currently Listening
1. “Common People” by William Shatner (from Has Been)
2. “The Skin” by ALL (from Problematic)
3. “Loyalty” by The Hudson Falcons (from For Those Whose Hearts and Souls are True)
4. “Dead Generation” by Roustabouts (from The Only One)
5. “Natural Woman” by Me First & the Gimme Gimmes (from Take a Break)
6. “Break Me” by The Ducky Boys (from Three Chords and the Truth)
7. “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” by Brassknuckle Boys (from American Bastard)
8. “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song” by The Flaming Lips (from At War with the Mystics)
9. “You Don’t Know What Love Is (You Just Do as You’re Told)” by The White Stripes (from Icky Thump)
10. “Carpetbaggers” by Jenny Lewis (from Acid Tongue)
11. “Kind of a Girl” by Tinted Windows (from Tinted Windows)
2. “The Skin” by ALL (from Problematic)
3. “Loyalty” by The Hudson Falcons (from For Those Whose Hearts and Souls are True)
4. “Dead Generation” by Roustabouts (from The Only One)
5. “Natural Woman” by Me First & the Gimme Gimmes (from Take a Break)
6. “Break Me” by The Ducky Boys (from Three Chords and the Truth)
7. “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” by Brassknuckle Boys (from American Bastard)
8. “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song” by The Flaming Lips (from At War with the Mystics)
9. “You Don’t Know What Love Is (You Just Do as You’re Told)” by The White Stripes (from Icky Thump)
10. “Carpetbaggers” by Jenny Lewis (from Acid Tongue)
11. “Kind of a Girl” by Tinted Windows (from Tinted Windows)
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Quote of the Day
The unanimous Senate Democratic support for Obamacare shows that there are really only two types of Congresspeople: Democrats and Republicans. All other shadings and adjectives are mere decoration.-- Dick Morris from the post GRIFFITH’S PARTY SWITCH ILLUSTRATES THE DEATH OF MODERATE DEMOCRATS
Later on in that same piece Morris goes on to say the following --
In 2010, voters will realize that their can vote only for one of the two parties. Individuals don't matter. Candidate personalities, preferences, backgrounds, and even ideologies don't matter. Once the smart voter said that he votes for the person, not the party. Now, this once virtuous citizen would be a fool. There is no such thing as a moderate Democrat or a centrist or a conservative or a Reagan Democrat. There are only Democrats who, when the chips are down, will vote as his leaders need him to vote.My only problem with this is that he is stating that Democrats are the only ones guilty of this behavior. Anyone with an ounce of intellectual honesty knows that the Republicans are just as guilty as the Democrats. They are all whores who care nothing for the people of this country or this country’s best interests. Okay, to be fair there are a handful of individuals on both sides that aren’t complete whores, our very own Tom Coburn and Dan Boren come to mind, but they are the exceptions and not the rule.
The only hope this country has is a complete dismantling of the power structure of the two party system and their corporate sugar daddies. We need term limits and public financing of elections and we need it now! Unfortunately it will never happen because those in Washington with NEVER do anything to decrease their power. I don’t care if the have a “D” or an “R” next to their name, they are all the same. The only difference is who they pay off once in power.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Snowed In…Literally
Like many in the OKC metro area on this fine Christmas morning, I am snowed in and unable to leave my house. This wouldn’t be that big of a deal except that our kids are stuck at the grandparents’ house (plus we’re supposed to go over there for dinner). Add on top of that the fact that I do not have a snow shovel (I was able to borrow a basic shovel from a neighbor though) and this is sure to turn out to be a Christmas for the memory banks. I can see it now…I’ll be old and curmudgeonly and telling the grandkids about the great Oklahoma blizzard of ’09.
Merry Christmas everyone! Stay warm and safe! (And wish me good luck with the shoveling.)
Merry Christmas everyone! Stay warm and safe! (And wish me good luck with the shoveling.)
Thursday, December 24, 2009
The Spy Adds Two New Shows
The first is The Oklahoma Rock Show which will focus on local music and will air on Thursday nights starting in January. The second is The Lost Years with The Lost Ogle which will focus on music released during the years that the Spy was off the air and airs on Wednesday’s at 8PM.
If you are out of the area, you can listen to the Spy online for free. Go here.
If you are out of the area, you can listen to the Spy online for free. Go here.
Hell has Frozen Over…Well Almost
Headline: Graves-era Misfits to open for Danzig
The kicker is that Jerry Only won’t be along for the ride.
The kicker is that Jerry Only won’t be along for the ride.
I Always Feel Like Somebody’s Watching Me…
Here is the creepy list for the day – 10 Ways Your Employer is Spying on You. Actually the majority of the list itself isn’t all that creepy. Most of the list deals with activity while at work or use of company materials (like company computers, email, phones, car, etc). The only ones that bothered me were # 6 and # 8. Other than that, most of this stuff is common sense.
Wow…I Didn’t See That Coming
Susan Sarandon and Tim Robins have split up. I have always liked these two and I thought they made a great couple. One has to wonder if any couple from Hollywood can survive.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Quote of the Day
“I asked my mother, I said ‘Well if there is only one God then why are there so many religions?’ and over the years I have been pondering the question ever since. And it would seem to me that the conclusion I’ve come to is that all the religions are true, they just see a different part of the elephant.”-- George Lucas
What Your Favorite Author Says About You
Here is a darned funny post about stereotyping people based on their favorite authors.
Currently Reading
Title: The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel (Random House, Amazon, Wikipedia)
Author: Michael Scott (Official)
Publisher: Delacorte Press (Random House, Wikipedia)
I found this book quite by accident. I was at the Moore Public Library and did a search of the catalog for “Gilgamesh” and this was the first entry in the list. The name Nicholas Flamel looked really familiar (I thought that I’d remembered it from the first Harry Potter book in fact he was apparently a real guy). The description of the book also mentioned the Philosopher’s Stone (again familiar thanks to Harry Potter, the original title of the first book was Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone; I also recently found a story called “The Philospher’s Stone” in the book Spells of Enchantment: The Wonderous Fairy Tales of Western Culture). I checked out the book and learned that its author, Michael Scott, is an “authority on mythology and folklore” according to the About the Author section of the book.
So far the book is a fast and vivid read with enjoyable characters and a fascinating magic system. I have a feeling that I am going to get sucked in to this series (this book is the first of six). After getting at least this first book under my belt, I think that I may see if Mr. Scott would be interested in doing an interview.
Author: Michael Scott (Official)
Publisher: Delacorte Press (Random House, Wikipedia)
I found this book quite by accident. I was at the Moore Public Library and did a search of the catalog for “Gilgamesh” and this was the first entry in the list. The name Nicholas Flamel looked really familiar (I thought that I’d remembered it from the first Harry Potter book in fact he was apparently a real guy). The description of the book also mentioned the Philosopher’s Stone (again familiar thanks to Harry Potter, the original title of the first book was Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone; I also recently found a story called “The Philospher’s Stone” in the book Spells of Enchantment: The Wonderous Fairy Tales of Western Culture). I checked out the book and learned that its author, Michael Scott, is an “authority on mythology and folklore” according to the About the Author section of the book.
So far the book is a fast and vivid read with enjoyable characters and a fascinating magic system. I have a feeling that I am going to get sucked in to this series (this book is the first of six). After getting at least this first book under my belt, I think that I may see if Mr. Scott would be interested in doing an interview.
My Weekend Excursion: Church
My kids have been going to church with some friends recently and on Sunday they were in a Christmas show-thing. Since they were going to be getting up in front of folks, I decided to go and show my support, plus I’ve been curious to check out what this church is all about. So I got up, got dressed, and went to church for the first time in quite a few years.
We got to the church and it wasn’t very big, but I was very impressed by how nice everyone was. Now when I say everyone that is actually quite a small number; I think that there were a total of 10 adults in the church, not counting the preacher, and at least four of those adults were helping out with the service. Speaking of the service, I found it to be oddly disorganized. At first there was some singing and then the preacher did what I’m assuming was the sermon (I’m not sure if that is the term used in this denomination or not). Speaking of denominations, this is a Pentecostal church which is probably about as different as you can get from the Episcopalian churches that I grew up in. After the preaching there was another song and then the kids did their thing and the service was over.
I think what struck me most about the entire experience was how uncomfortable I felt throughout the entire thing. I felt on guard the whole time and like I really had to watch what I said. The preacher, who was an incredibly nice man, asked me to fill out an information card that had a field for “home church” on which I put none. At one point we were talking and the subject of school came up and I nearly didn’t tell him that my major was going to be Religious Studies. I hesitated because often when I tell people my desire to study the subject, they ask if I want to be a preacher and I did not want to get into anything like that at all.
I’m glad that I went and I will continue to let me kids go as well, but I’m thinking that we will start visiting other church/religious services soon (I’ll tell them it’s like a field trip) because I want them to be exposed to all different types of religions.
We got to the church and it wasn’t very big, but I was very impressed by how nice everyone was. Now when I say everyone that is actually quite a small number; I think that there were a total of 10 adults in the church, not counting the preacher, and at least four of those adults were helping out with the service. Speaking of the service, I found it to be oddly disorganized. At first there was some singing and then the preacher did what I’m assuming was the sermon (I’m not sure if that is the term used in this denomination or not). Speaking of denominations, this is a Pentecostal church which is probably about as different as you can get from the Episcopalian churches that I grew up in. After the preaching there was another song and then the kids did their thing and the service was over.
I think what struck me most about the entire experience was how uncomfortable I felt throughout the entire thing. I felt on guard the whole time and like I really had to watch what I said. The preacher, who was an incredibly nice man, asked me to fill out an information card that had a field for “home church” on which I put none. At one point we were talking and the subject of school came up and I nearly didn’t tell him that my major was going to be Religious Studies. I hesitated because often when I tell people my desire to study the subject, they ask if I want to be a preacher and I did not want to get into anything like that at all.
I’m glad that I went and I will continue to let me kids go as well, but I’m thinking that we will start visiting other church/religious services soon (I’ll tell them it’s like a field trip) because I want them to be exposed to all different types of religions.
Currently Listening
1. “Superhumans” by The Flaming Lips (from Transmissions from the Satellite Heart)
2. “Halloween on the Barbary Coast” by The Flaming Lips (from Hit to Death on the Future Head)
3. “Gonna Be Around” by The Heeartdrops (from East Side Drive)
4. “No Redemption” by The Heartdrops (from This is The Heartdrops)
5. “I Don’t Know What You’re Talking About” by Husker Du (from New Day Rising)
6. “These Important Years” by Husker Du (from Warehouse: Songs and Stories)
7. “Need Some Air” by Urge Overkill (from Exit the Dragon)
8. “Back on Me” by Urge Overkill (from Saturation)
9. “Gotta Be Free” by Mojo Nixon (from Whereabouts Unknown)
10. “Take Me to Your Leader” by Mojo Nixon (from Gadzooks: The Homemade Bootleg)
2. “Halloween on the Barbary Coast” by The Flaming Lips (from Hit to Death on the Future Head)
3. “Gonna Be Around” by The Heeartdrops (from East Side Drive)
4. “No Redemption” by The Heartdrops (from This is The Heartdrops)
5. “I Don’t Know What You’re Talking About” by Husker Du (from New Day Rising)
6. “These Important Years” by Husker Du (from Warehouse: Songs and Stories)
7. “Need Some Air” by Urge Overkill (from Exit the Dragon)
8. “Back on Me” by Urge Overkill (from Saturation)
9. “Gotta Be Free” by Mojo Nixon (from Whereabouts Unknown)
10. “Take Me to Your Leader” by Mojo Nixon (from Gadzooks: The Homemade Bootleg)
Monday, December 21, 2009
Fingerprints of Balanced Religion
There were a couple of fascinating segments on religion on NPR recently. One was on Talk of the Nation last week in which Barbara Bradley Hagerty, author of Fingerprints of God, was interviewed and the other was on today’s Here & Now in which Frank Schaeffer was interviewed. Both segments are fascinating and definitely worth listening to.
What If It Does What They Say It Will Do?
With all of the talk about the health care reform bill that is in the process of getting passed in the Senate and all of the noise coming from both sides of the political spectrum about what this bill may or may not do, I have to wonder…what if the bill actually does what they say it will do. What happens then? Will those who opposed it say, “wow we were wrong” or will the battles continue and the lines get drawn deeper in the sand.
My guess is that the bill will not do what they say it will do, but admittedly I’m no expert. I am, by default, leery of any bill that is longer than The Lord of the Rings, especially one designed to completely restructure a large portion of our economy. That having been said, if it works and works like they claim that it will, then I can’t see that as a completely bad thing.
One thing I am sure of though…no matter the outcome, neither side will admit that they were wrong and the other side was right. Both will blame each other for everything under the sun and the status quo will continue, undaunted in its mediocrity.
My guess is that the bill will not do what they say it will do, but admittedly I’m no expert. I am, by default, leery of any bill that is longer than The Lord of the Rings, especially one designed to completely restructure a large portion of our economy. That having been said, if it works and works like they claim that it will, then I can’t see that as a completely bad thing.
One thing I am sure of though…no matter the outcome, neither side will admit that they were wrong and the other side was right. Both will blame each other for everything under the sun and the status quo will continue, undaunted in its mediocrity.
Any Suggestions on Writing a Resume?
I need to update my resume and the one that I’ve been using just isn’t going to work anymore (mostly because of formatting and space issues). Does anyone have any good suggestions for resumes or resume styles that have worked well for them?
Blast from the Past: The Flaming Lips’ “Transmissions from the Satellite Heart”
Until recently, it has probably been a good five or six years since I have really listened to The Flaming Lips. Luckily a friend loaned me a bunch of their CDs (including quite a few that I’d never heard) and I was reminded how great this band is.
Unfortunately I can’t claim to have known this band when. By the time I moved to Oklahoma in 1992, the Lips had already released five full-length albums and were local legends. The first time that I heard the band was on the show Planet Underground on KJ103 (don’t laugh…for what it was, it was a pretty good show) and the song was either “Plastic Jesus” or “She Don’t Use Jelly.” Pretty soon after that I picked up a copy of Transmissions from the Satellite Heart and was blown away. Soon after that I got nearly all of the band’s previous releases and saw them twice (once in 1993 and once in 1994). After the band released the Clouds Taste Metallic, I kind of lost interest (at the time my tastes were moving away from indie rock type stuff).
Upon re-listening to Transmissions (and Hit to Death in the Future Head, my personal favorite Lips record) I have been re-introduced to this band’s amazing brand of trippy pop music. This CDs opening track “Turn It On” is such a classic that I am surprised that it never reached the commercial success that “She Don’t Use Jelly” did (which is also a great song). In fact, there isn’t a bad song on this album and listening to it again takes me back to the early 90s and those post high school, freshman college days before life got all complicated.
If you have never heard this record, I highly suggest checking it out and if you like what you hear, I would also highly recommend its two predecessors, Hit to Death in the Future Head and In a Priest Driven Ambulance.
R.I.P. Brittany Murphy
Actress Brittany Murphy, known for her parts in Clueless and Girl, Interrupted, passed away yesterday. Rest well Brittany.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
My Fiction – “The Calling of Life”
I’ve decided to take my current situation and use it as fuel for an idea for a novel/script that I’ve had for about 10 years now. The story is that of a guy who has reached middle age and is coming to terms with being stuck working in a call center. Sounds familiar right? Well a lot of this is very autobiographical, so it may end up being more of an exercise in catharsis than anything else. I’ve also incorporated parts of an earlier version of my call center story idea here as well. I’m not very far into the thing but I’d thought I’d share the opening. Please let me know what you think.
And I have just noticed that there is some editing that needs to be done in the inclusion of the older version into the newer one (mostly changing from third to first person). If that jumps around a bit here, that is why.
___________________________________________
Growing up, no one ever imagines that they would end up jockeying a headset, trying to help some overly irate person with their television or cell phone or computer. Lord knows I didn’t. I always imagined that someday I’d be standing in front of a classroom…that was then.
When 35 is staring you in the face and all you have to show for it is a worthless associate’s degree, a horrific personal finance situation, and 15 years worth of customer service experience you come to the realization that the time for dreams is over and the time for reality has come. But this is now and before you can really understand the now, you need to see the then. Let’s start someplace random, like a couple of weeks before my 30th birthday…
“Thank you for choosing Spectrum Wireless, my name is Peter. How may I help you today?”
“I just got my bill and I have it in front of me?”
“Yes ma’am?”
“Did I go over my minutes?”
Mutes microphone, “I don’t know, did you?” Un-mutes microphone, “That’s a great question. Let’s take a look together shall we?” Pressing the mute button on his headset. “Sweet shit these people are getting dumber by the day.” Releasing the mute button and continues the conversation without a pause “If you look at page 3 of your bill it shows you the breakdown of your usage.”
“So…when it says 25 extra minutes used, what does that mean?”
“That means that you used all of the minutes in your plan, plus an additional 25 minutes at $0.40 a minutes” I replied.
“How much did that cost?”
I quickly mute my headset “AAARRRGHHHHH!!!!” Un-mutes microphone, “Well let’s see…25 minutes times $0.40 a minute equals $10.00” That is if you can add. “Just look at the bottom of page 3.”
“I don’t understand.”
Welcome to my life. This call is exactly like any one of the thousands of stupid customer’s I have spoken with since taking a job in a call center.
“Okay ma’am. How many minutes do you have in your plan?”
“500.”
“And according to page 3 of your bill, how many total minutes did you use?”
“525.”
“So…?”
“So what? I still don’t understand!”
And you never will.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Beginning the Search by Ending the Dream?
I’ve recently decided that it is time for me to find a new job. My current employer is cutting our hours and honestly any chance to leave early (even if it is without pay) I take. This job has been a horrific experience overall. Its only saying grace is that it is so close to home, but we can no longer afford for me to continue to work there. So now I begin the tedious endeavor of finding a new job. This is never a fun experience but in an economy as bad as ours, it’s sure to be even worse.
One of the things that has kept me from looking for a new job is how convenient this one has been for school. Something that I have been fairly adamant about is working at a job that allows me to go to school. Without completing my education, I am destined to continue working in shitty customer service jobs for the rest of my days. Needless to say that is a depressing prospect and something that I have refused to entertain. Until now.
Since I’ve decided to look for a new job, I’ve also decided that I want it to be the best job that I can possibly get. What prompted the change of heart? Well a few things. First, I can’t go to school next semester and I’m not sure when I will be able to again. Second, I saw a job posting for a customer service position with one of the local city governments. That is the kind of job that, if I could land it, would be something that I could probably make a descent enough living from and it is for sure something that I am beyond qualified for. Third, is the fact that I am not getting any younger and the reality is that I am not going to finish college anytime soon, if ever, so I’ve decided that maybe it is time to put that dream behind me.
Who knows what will happen, but at this point I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I will work in customer service type jobs until I retire (or more likely die). I guess there are worse things in the world to do with ones life, but it’s still depressing nevertheless.
One of the things that has kept me from looking for a new job is how convenient this one has been for school. Something that I have been fairly adamant about is working at a job that allows me to go to school. Without completing my education, I am destined to continue working in shitty customer service jobs for the rest of my days. Needless to say that is a depressing prospect and something that I have refused to entertain. Until now.
Since I’ve decided to look for a new job, I’ve also decided that I want it to be the best job that I can possibly get. What prompted the change of heart? Well a few things. First, I can’t go to school next semester and I’m not sure when I will be able to again. Second, I saw a job posting for a customer service position with one of the local city governments. That is the kind of job that, if I could land it, would be something that I could probably make a descent enough living from and it is for sure something that I am beyond qualified for. Third, is the fact that I am not getting any younger and the reality is that I am not going to finish college anytime soon, if ever, so I’ve decided that maybe it is time to put that dream behind me.
Who knows what will happen, but at this point I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I will work in customer service type jobs until I retire (or more likely die). I guess there are worse things in the world to do with ones life, but it’s still depressing nevertheless.
Cover Wars: “Achin’ To Be”
Song: “Achin’ To Be”
Bands: The Replacements vs. Pinhead Gunpowder
And just for fun, here is a version by Paul Westerberg solo.
Bands: The Replacements vs. Pinhead Gunpowder
And just for fun, here is a version by Paul Westerberg solo.
Currently Listening
Today we’re doing a shuffle that includes ALL, One Man Army, Descendents, Dag Nasty, and The Bouncing Souls.
1. “All’s Fair” by ALL (from Guilty)
2. “12XU” by Dag Nasty (from Field Day)
3. “Long Distance” by ALL (from Pummel)
4. “Trying [Rare Alternate Version]” by Dag Nasty (from Wig Out at Denko’s [Bonus Tracks])
5. “I.F.H.A. (One Love)” by One Man Army (from BYO Split Series, Vol. 5)
6. “Cheer” by Descendents (from Enjoy!)
7. “The Whole Thing” by The Bouncing Souls (from Hopeless Romantic)
8. “Million Days” by Dag Nasty (from Four on the Floor)
9. “Chunksong” by The Bouncing Souls (from The Bouncing Souls)
10. “Another Night” by One Man Army (from Las Word Spoken)
1. “All’s Fair” by ALL (from Guilty)
2. “12XU” by Dag Nasty (from Field Day)
3. “Long Distance” by ALL (from Pummel)
4. “Trying [Rare Alternate Version]” by Dag Nasty (from Wig Out at Denko’s [Bonus Tracks])
5. “I.F.H.A. (One Love)” by One Man Army (from BYO Split Series, Vol. 5)
6. “Cheer” by Descendents (from Enjoy!)
7. “The Whole Thing” by The Bouncing Souls (from Hopeless Romantic)
8. “Million Days” by Dag Nasty (from Four on the Floor)
9. “Chunksong” by The Bouncing Souls (from The Bouncing Souls)
10. “Another Night” by One Man Army (from Las Word Spoken)
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Conan Out, Jerry In?
It seems that NBC is thinking of replacing Conan O’Brien with Jerry Seinfeld as the host of The Tonight Show.
Am I the only person out there who doubted Conan’s ability to carry an earlier time slot? He is way too off kilter for the average Tonight Show viewer and the ratings prove it. If he does get canned, the really sad part is that he would have been given only one year to prove himself and that just might not be enough time for his style to catch on.
Am I the only person out there who doubted Conan’s ability to carry an earlier time slot? He is way too off kilter for the average Tonight Show viewer and the ratings prove it. If he does get canned, the really sad part is that he would have been given only one year to prove himself and that just might not be enough time for his style to catch on.
Top 50 Artists of the 00s
Spinner has put together their list of the Top 50 Artists of the 2000s. The list is pretty atypical and what you’d expect from Spinner.
Currently Listening
1. “Hot in the City” by Billy Idol (from Greatest Hits)
2. “Bulling the Jukebox” by The Bouncing Souls (from Hopeless Romantic)
3. “I’m So Sick of Television” by The Dimestore Haloes (from Thrill City Crime Control)
4. “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song” by The Flaming Lips (from At War with the Mystics)
5. “Wouldn’t Believe It” by The Get Up Kids (from Guilt Show)
6. “Lies & Prophecies” by The GC5 (from Never Bet the Devil Your Head)
7. “Tell Me Goodnight” by The Huntingtons (from Plastic Surgery)
8. “Become the Enemy” by The Lemonheads (from The Lemonheads)
9. “We Are” by One Man Army (from Rumors and Headlines)
10. “The First Part” by Superchunk (from Foolish)
2. “Bulling the Jukebox” by The Bouncing Souls (from Hopeless Romantic)
3. “I’m So Sick of Television” by The Dimestore Haloes (from Thrill City Crime Control)
4. “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song” by The Flaming Lips (from At War with the Mystics)
5. “Wouldn’t Believe It” by The Get Up Kids (from Guilt Show)
6. “Lies & Prophecies” by The GC5 (from Never Bet the Devil Your Head)
7. “Tell Me Goodnight” by The Huntingtons (from Plastic Surgery)
8. “Become the Enemy” by The Lemonheads (from The Lemonheads)
9. “We Are” by One Man Army (from Rumors and Headlines)
10. “The First Part” by Superchunk (from Foolish)
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Ownership and the Universe
There is a fascinating post over on The World in the Satin Bag entitled Nothing Belongs to Us: The Anti-Property Universe.
From the post –
From the post –
But isn't it going to be a shock for all of us when/if we one day reach the stars and realize that, crap, all this stuff out there isn't ours? We can't even agree about who owns the Moon, so why any of us are under the illusion that somehow we own the Sun, Jupiter, Saturn, all the asteroids and other planets/planetoids, the Kuiper Belt, or even the Milky Way Galaxy and all of its freedom-fighting black holes roaming around eating up planets and other stellar bodies without thinking twice (it's a black hole, after all) is beyond me.That’s some pretty deep stuff IMHO. And I think that he is right. We do need to get over ourselves, grow up, and stop obsessing about getting more stuff.
[...]
The reality is, the universe isn't owned by anyone. Our claims to ownership over the Earth are the strongest ones we can make, and even those are flimsy at best; there are other beasts on this planet besides us, who share this world, who breathe the same air and eat the same food (technically speaking). The Earth is a place of many creatures and we've already seen what our silly ideas about ownership have done to our particular brand of creature: slavery, violent capitalism, religious wars (physical and psychological), etc. And the purely selfish notion of ownership will produce numerous problems for us in the future. We'll meet aliens who may think like us, or may think differently. Science fiction says we'll have wars, some of them we'll win, and others we'll lose. Will they be worth it?
Maybe we should get over ourselves and think about the bigger picture. Even if we can claim ownership over the Earth, the universe won't care. It's all a pointless gesture, because all it takes is a flick of the metaphorical universal wrist and everything we know to exist will cease to be. Let's do a little growing up. There's nothing wrong with saying that car is yours, but in the grand scheme of things, we have control over very little.
More Stuff to Take
I love learning and honestly I love school. If I could quit working and go to school full time I’d do it in a heartbeat. My problem often is trying to narrow down what it is that I want to take (go here to see what I mean).
A while back I got a course on CD from the library on fantasy literature and enjoyed the heck out of it. Today I decided to see what other courses the folks at Modern Scholar had to offer and I discovered that I wanted to take darn near everything they have listed on their Course List. So many cool courses and so little time… What’s a would-be scholar to do?
Unfortunately I won’t be taking any classes this coming spring semester but will hopefully be heading to OU in the fall. This brings up another dilemma…what to minor in. I’ve decided that my major will be Religious Studies, but I’m having a hard time deciding on a minor. So far I have been thinking about literature, history, and political science. After talking to my Folklore professor about it, I’ve been leaning towards literature (all of the classes at OCCC that I’d like to someday teach are currently taught by English professors). So the idea has been to get a BA in Religious Studies with a minor in literature (and possibly history as well) and then to get a MA in English. But lately I’ve started to think about getting a minor in humanities (if that is even an option). I guess more than anything else I really need to talk to someone at OU to see what my options are and how many classes I’ll need to take for each one.
But in the mean time I think that I’m going to try and track down some more of those Modern Scholar courses and check into those free online classes from Yale (which so far look pretty freaking cool).
A while back I got a course on CD from the library on fantasy literature and enjoyed the heck out of it. Today I decided to see what other courses the folks at Modern Scholar had to offer and I discovered that I wanted to take darn near everything they have listed on their Course List. So many cool courses and so little time… What’s a would-be scholar to do?
Unfortunately I won’t be taking any classes this coming spring semester but will hopefully be heading to OU in the fall. This brings up another dilemma…what to minor in. I’ve decided that my major will be Religious Studies, but I’m having a hard time deciding on a minor. So far I have been thinking about literature, history, and political science. After talking to my Folklore professor about it, I’ve been leaning towards literature (all of the classes at OCCC that I’d like to someday teach are currently taught by English professors). So the idea has been to get a BA in Religious Studies with a minor in literature (and possibly history as well) and then to get a MA in English. But lately I’ve started to think about getting a minor in humanities (if that is even an option). I guess more than anything else I really need to talk to someone at OU to see what my options are and how many classes I’ll need to take for each one.
But in the mean time I think that I’m going to try and track down some more of those Modern Scholar courses and check into those free online classes from Yale (which so far look pretty freaking cool).
The Stooges Heading to the Hall
Finally, proto punk legends The Stooges are going to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Stooges, along with The MC5, The Velvet Underground, the New York Dolls, and The Sonics, were the band that laid the groundwork for punk and everything that has followed since.
In response to the announcement front man Iggy Pop stated –
In response to the announcement front man Iggy Pop stated –
We've been rejected seven times, and we would have set a record, I think, if it happened again. It started to feel like Charlie Brown and the football. I had about two hours of a strong emotional reaction after hearing the news. It felt like vindication. Then I kind of scratched my head and thought, 'Am I still cool? Or is that over now?'All I can really say is it’s about time!
The Flaming Lips to Headline the Green Man Festival
OKC’s musical freak legends The Flaming Lips will be headlining the 2010 Green Man Festival (at least the part on Saturday night).
I’ve seen the Lips twice, both times on the early to mid 90s. I have to admit that I haven’t really followed the band much since them but someone was nice enough to loan me some of their newer CDs (the ones from this decade basically) so I will be checking them out soon.
I’ve seen the Lips twice, both times on the early to mid 90s. I have to admit that I haven’t really followed the band much since them but someone was nice enough to loan me some of their newer CDs (the ones from this decade basically) so I will be checking them out soon.
Currently Listening
1. “Sleeper by One Man Army (from Rumors and Headlines)
2. “Tangerine” by Buffalo Tom (from Sleepy Eyed)
3. “Sick of Myself” by Matthew Sweet (from Time Capsule: The Best of Matthew Sweet)
4. “Leash” by Pearl Jam (from Vs.)
5. “Satellite of Love” by Lou Reed (from Walk on the Wild Side: The Best of Lou Reed)
6. “Do You Believe Her” by The Raveonettes (from Whip It On)
7. “Package Thief” by Superchunk (from On the Mouth)
8. “Is She Really Going Out With Him?” by Joe Jackson (from No Thanks! The ‘70s Punk Rebellion Disc 4)
9. “Knock Me Down” by Dropkick Murphys (from Mob Mentality)
10. “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” by R.E.M. (from MTV Unplugged)
2. “Tangerine” by Buffalo Tom (from Sleepy Eyed)
3. “Sick of Myself” by Matthew Sweet (from Time Capsule: The Best of Matthew Sweet)
4. “Leash” by Pearl Jam (from Vs.)
5. “Satellite of Love” by Lou Reed (from Walk on the Wild Side: The Best of Lou Reed)
6. “Do You Believe Her” by The Raveonettes (from Whip It On)
7. “Package Thief” by Superchunk (from On the Mouth)
8. “Is She Really Going Out With Him?” by Joe Jackson (from No Thanks! The ‘70s Punk Rebellion Disc 4)
9. “Knock Me Down” by Dropkick Murphys (from Mob Mentality)
10. “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” by R.E.M. (from MTV Unplugged)
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
What is a Pervert?
A comment on a previous post got me thinking.
Here’s the comment –
Before going any father, let’s see how the word is defined –
Since the dictionary isn’t giving much insight, let us try asking a few simple questions:
1. Is a pervert someone who enjoys having sexual intercourse in anything other than the missionary position?
--If this is the case then I think it is safe to say that a large number of us, if not the vast majority, are perverts.
2. Is a pervert someone who enjoys giving or receiving oral sex?
--Again, I think most would be guilty of one if not both of these.
3. Is a pervert someone who enjoys looking at an attractive person (be them fully clothed, in a bathing suit, naked, or in the middle of making whoopee)?
--Who isn’t guilty of this?
So by these standards we all are perverts (at least those of us who are honest enough with ourselves to admit it). And so what? What difference does it make how someone enjoys getting their freaky deaky on? As long as all parties are consenting adults and fully aware of the consequences of their actions, this is a personal and private issue and honestly is a non-issue IMHO.
So based on these standards the average straight person is as much of a pervert as a gay person. So what’s the deal? Is it natural for a straight man to enjoy getting oral satisfaction from a woman, yet somehow unnatural for a gay man to enjoy same said activity from a man? If the answer is yes, then I must ask why?
This is precisely why the whole perversion argument against homosexuals has never worked with me. There are plenty of straight people who are much greater perverts than gay folks. Many of the even hide behind religion and do lord knows what behind closed doors, while calling hell fire down on anyone he/she sees as a pervert. This is straight up hypocrisy and shouldn’t be tolerated.
Here’s the comment –
… the reality is that most of this country, if you give them the chance to express their opinion in private, without fear of being immediately tarred as a bigot, will tell you that they regard homosexuality as a perversion. Many of us will maintain that they have a perfect right to practice that perversion, but still, to an awful lot of us, asking, "What is wrong with a politician being gay?" is functionally equivalent to, "What is wrong with a politician being a pervert?"So this begs the question, what is a pervert?
Before going any father, let’s see how the word is defined –
–verb (used with object)Well that’s a bit vague. So I decided to check the definition of perversion –
1. to affect with perversion.
2. to lead astray morally.
3. to turn away from the right course.
4. to lead into mental error or false judgment.
5. to turn to an improper use; misapply.
6. to misconstrue or misinterpret, esp. deliberately; distort: to pervert someone's statement.
7. to bring to a less excellent state; vitiate; debase.
8. Pathology. to change to what is unnatural or abnormal.
9. to convert or persuade to a religious belief regarded as false or wrong.
–noun
10. a person who practices sexual perversion.
11. Pathology. a person affected with perversion.
12. a person who has been perverted, esp. to a religious belief regarded as erroneous.
–nounAnd that doesn’t really help that much either. (On a side note, I really hate it when words are defined by referring back to a different version of the same word or its root word.)
1. the act of perverting.
2. the state of being perverted.
3. a perverted form of something.
4. any of various means of obtaining sexual
gratification that are generally regarded as being abnormal.
5. Pathology. a change to what is unnatural or abnormal: a perversion of function or structure.
Since the dictionary isn’t giving much insight, let us try asking a few simple questions:
1. Is a pervert someone who enjoys having sexual intercourse in anything other than the missionary position?
--If this is the case then I think it is safe to say that a large number of us, if not the vast majority, are perverts.
2. Is a pervert someone who enjoys giving or receiving oral sex?
--Again, I think most would be guilty of one if not both of these.
3. Is a pervert someone who enjoys looking at an attractive person (be them fully clothed, in a bathing suit, naked, or in the middle of making whoopee)?
--Who isn’t guilty of this?
So by these standards we all are perverts (at least those of us who are honest enough with ourselves to admit it). And so what? What difference does it make how someone enjoys getting their freaky deaky on? As long as all parties are consenting adults and fully aware of the consequences of their actions, this is a personal and private issue and honestly is a non-issue IMHO.
So based on these standards the average straight person is as much of a pervert as a gay person. So what’s the deal? Is it natural for a straight man to enjoy getting oral satisfaction from a woman, yet somehow unnatural for a gay man to enjoy same said activity from a man? If the answer is yes, then I must ask why?
This is precisely why the whole perversion argument against homosexuals has never worked with me. There are plenty of straight people who are much greater perverts than gay folks. Many of the even hide behind religion and do lord knows what behind closed doors, while calling hell fire down on anyone he/she sees as a pervert. This is straight up hypocrisy and shouldn’t be tolerated.
The Civil War
In a post on another blog, the topic of the Civil War came up and it got me thinking. I am not an expert on the topic of the Civil War, so I’d like this to be kind of an opened-ended discussion type post. What do you think about the Civil War? Do you think it was just? Do you think it was Constitutional? Do you think that Lincoln did the right thing by trying to preserve the union?
Based on what I know of the war, I think that it was a just and Constitutional war (as much as any have been probably). I do think that the union was worth saving and that the result of the war, the dominance of the Federal government over the States governments, was overall a good thing (even though that pooch has since been screwed royally).
What do you think?
Based on what I know of the war, I think that it was a just and Constitutional war (as much as any have been probably). I do think that the union was worth saving and that the result of the war, the dominance of the Federal government over the States governments, was overall a good thing (even though that pooch has since been screwed royally).
What do you think?
Atheist Politician Threatened with Lawsuit
Why? Because somehow not believing in God disqualifies him from holding public office.
From the story –
From the story –
(H)e has such a problem with it Edgerton is threatening to file a lawsuit, claiming Bothwell isn’t qualified to hold office because of his atheism, citing the unconstitutional North Carolina Constitution that “disqualifies officeholders ‘who shall deny the being of Almighty God.’”And here is the ironic part…Edgerton is black.
There was a time when people like Edgerton were denied office because of the color of their skin. Edgerton is fighting for the same bigotry — denying office to someone because of their religion, or lack there of. It’s shameful.This is mind boggling to me. How someone who is a member of a minority can be a raging bigot is beyond me. If you don’t like being on the receiving end of bigotry, then why in the name of all that is good in the world, would you think it is okay being on opposite end, dishing out bigotry?
Free Will
There is a debate about free will going on over at The Daily Dish (see here, here, and here). The most recent post on the subject (the third of the previous links), refers to a survey of philosophers –
What do you think? Do we have free will?
Free will: compatibilism, libertarianism, or no free will?The post links to the Wikipedia entry on free will for those unfamiliar with the aforementioned terms (of which I am one…the unfamiliar that is). Here is a snippet of the entry –
Accept: compatibilism 873 / 3226 (27%)
Lean toward: compatibilism 788 / 3226 (24.4%)
Lean toward: libertarianism 303 / 3226 (9.3%)
Accept: libertarianism 288 / 3226 (8.9%)
Lean toward: no free will 255 / 3226 (7.9%)
Accept: no free will 236 / 3226 (7.3%)
Determinism is roughly defined as the view that all current and future events are causally necessitated by past events combined with the laws of nature. Neither determinism nor its opposite, indeterminism, are positions in the debate about free will.[1]My first thought after reading this is “man I need to take some philosophy classes.” At the moment I have to admit that this stuff is a bit over my head (and in my defense it’s not even 7:30 in the morning at the time of my typing this), but as a general rule I have always been a firm believer in free will. I think that is something endowed in us by God and nature and it is what makes us, in many ways, extremely special and full of potential (even though we squander it constantly).
Compatibilism (also called soft determinism) is the view that the assumption of free will and the existence of a concept of determinism are compatible with each other; this is opposed to incompatibilism which is the view that there is no way to reconcile a belief in a deterministic universe with a belief in a concept of free will beyond that of a perceived existence.[2] Hard determinism is the version of incompatibilism that accepts the assumption of determinism and rejects the idea that humans have any free will.[3]
Libertarianism agrees with hard determinism only in rejecting compatibilism. Libertarians accept the existence of a concept of free will along with an assumption of indeterminism to some extent. Some of its proponents reject physical determinism and argue for some version of physical indeterminism that is compatible with freedom;[4]. Others are Metaphysical libertarians who appeal to mind-body dualism to argue a special case for sentient beings.
The theory of determinism has been challenged from the earliest philosophers, notably Epicurus[5] and Lucretius[6], to the latest theory of quantum mechanics, which postulates irreducible physical indeterminacy.
The standard argument against the existence of free will[7] is very simple. Either determinism is true or indeterminism is true. These exhaust the logical possibilities.[8] If determinism is true, we are not free. If indeterminism is true, our actions are random and our will lacks the control to be morally responsible.
What do you think? Do we have free will?
Interesting
Oklahoma State Senator Connie Johnson is looking into abolishing the death penalty in the Sooner State. For some reason, I just don’t see that happening…
10 Questions with Author Paul Kemp
Paul Kemp is a New York Times best selling author who has worked with the Forgotten Realms franchise and will joining the Star Wars franchise doe his nest project. This interview was conducted via email in November 2009.
For more information of Paul Kemp vist him at his official blog and his official website.
Dave: What is the story behind your latest book Shadowrealm?
Paul Kemp: Well, Shadowrealm is the third book in the Twilight War. And for those not following along at home, the Twilight War is a series that focuses on the machinations of gods, men, and archwizards as an apocalyptic, extra-planar storm of shadows bleeds into reality and covers the realm in darkness. Into this is thrown my signature character, Erevis Cale. He's a somewhat unwilling priest in services to the god of shadows, and a somewhat willing assassin in service to his own internal code. While the Twilight War is probably best characterized as sword and sorcery, it also sneaks up on epic fantasy, and all of that with a bit of moral philosophy thrown into the mix.
Dave: How did you get hooked up with the Forgotten Realms series?
Paul: I submitted to an open call held by the publisher lo these many years ago. I pitched a majordomo/butler with a very suspect past. Erevis Cale was born. Over time, he evolved from spy and assassin to priest. In the process, his view of himself changes, too. His journey has really been a blast to write and I've been humbled and delighted by his reception from fans.
Dave: Do you prefer writing in a world that you created or an already established world (like Forgotten Realms)?
Paul: Honestly, I don't have a strong preference either way. Both have strengths and drawbacks. The critical thing for me is that I'm able to tell the story I want to tell, through the eyes and in the voice of the character best able to tell it. Up to now, I've been able to do that in both shared world and non-shared-world settings.
Dave: How did you get started as a writer?
Paul: I've always been a storyteller, but I first put fingers to keyboard with an eye toward publication while I was in law school. Must have been my aversion to the Socratic method. J
Dave: Who are your favorite writers? What authors influenced your writing?
Paul: Direct influences on my writing are legends like Michael Moorcock (especially his Elric saga), Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser tales, GRR Martin, and, of course, Tolkien.
My favorite writers these days are geniuses like Chabon and Delilo.
Dave: What are your thoughts on the current state of the publishingindustry? Where do you think is the future of publishing?
Paul: Big publishers are struggling, I think, and the looming price war between Target, Amazon, and Walmart does not bode well for the industry. On the positive side, print on demand technology has made small and independent presses viable and some of them are producing outstanding titles. And the nice thing about small presses is that they can and do take chances on material is less obviously commercial. I think that makes it a great time to be a reader. I think those kinds of small presses will continue to proliferate.
Meanwhile, I think all the college students who are (or soon will be) reading textbooks in e-book format will drive a mass-adoption of e-books and e-book readers in the not too distant future. Print will dominate for years to come, but e-books will grow enormously in popularity in the coming years. As that happens, I think some authors with brand names may consider cutting publishers out of the process altogether as they simply sell e-books directly to readers.
Dave: What suggestions would you give to any would-be authors out there?
Paul: Read widely and various genres. Then write, write, write. I hear constantly from aspiring writers who have this or that great idea but just can't seem to write it. Usually, they say something like "My mind races too much with my many great ideas." That's all bullshit excuse making.
Here's the thing: writers write. That's it.
Dave: This is a High Fidelity inspired question. What are your Top 5albums, bands/artists, books, movies, TV shows?
Paul:
Albums: Led Zeppelin 2, the Beatles White album, Pink Floyd's The Wall, Pearljam's Ten, the Police's Synchronicity.
Bands: Soundgarden, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, the Police, Rolling Stones
Books: The Road -- McCarthy, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay - Chabon, Stormbringer -- Moorcock, The Hobbit -- Tolkien, Falling Man - Delilo
Movies: Pulp Fiction, Memento, The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly, Return of the King, Unforgiven Dave: What’s next for you?
Paul: Several things. I've got novels coming out from Del Rey in the Star Wars line (and let me tell you what a blast it was working with the Lucasbook folks and writing in the Star Wars universe generally). The first is entitled, Crosscurrent, and will be released in January 2010. It doesn’t feature any of the characters from the movies, but instead stars a little known Jedi Knight named Jaden Korr. I'm very proud of the novel and think readers will dig it. After that, I'll be doing a sequel to Crosscurrent and then probably hanging out in the Star Wars universe for a while (at least I hope so)..
In the meanwhile, I'm shopping a supernatural thriller and working on a more traditional epic fantasy.
Dave: Any final thoughts?
Paul: There is no spoon.
For more information of Paul Kemp vist him at his official blog and his official website.
Dave: What is the story behind your latest book Shadowrealm?
Paul Kemp: Well, Shadowrealm is the third book in the Twilight War. And for those not following along at home, the Twilight War is a series that focuses on the machinations of gods, men, and archwizards as an apocalyptic, extra-planar storm of shadows bleeds into reality and covers the realm in darkness. Into this is thrown my signature character, Erevis Cale. He's a somewhat unwilling priest in services to the god of shadows, and a somewhat willing assassin in service to his own internal code. While the Twilight War is probably best characterized as sword and sorcery, it also sneaks up on epic fantasy, and all of that with a bit of moral philosophy thrown into the mix.
Dave: How did you get hooked up with the Forgotten Realms series?
Paul: I submitted to an open call held by the publisher lo these many years ago. I pitched a majordomo/butler with a very suspect past. Erevis Cale was born. Over time, he evolved from spy and assassin to priest. In the process, his view of himself changes, too. His journey has really been a blast to write and I've been humbled and delighted by his reception from fans.
Dave: Do you prefer writing in a world that you created or an already established world (like Forgotten Realms)?
Paul: Honestly, I don't have a strong preference either way. Both have strengths and drawbacks. The critical thing for me is that I'm able to tell the story I want to tell, through the eyes and in the voice of the character best able to tell it. Up to now, I've been able to do that in both shared world and non-shared-world settings.
Dave: How did you get started as a writer?
Paul: I've always been a storyteller, but I first put fingers to keyboard with an eye toward publication while I was in law school. Must have been my aversion to the Socratic method. J
Dave: Who are your favorite writers? What authors influenced your writing?
Paul: Direct influences on my writing are legends like Michael Moorcock (especially his Elric saga), Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser tales, GRR Martin, and, of course, Tolkien.
My favorite writers these days are geniuses like Chabon and Delilo.
Dave: What are your thoughts on the current state of the publishingindustry? Where do you think is the future of publishing?
Paul: Big publishers are struggling, I think, and the looming price war between Target, Amazon, and Walmart does not bode well for the industry. On the positive side, print on demand technology has made small and independent presses viable and some of them are producing outstanding titles. And the nice thing about small presses is that they can and do take chances on material is less obviously commercial. I think that makes it a great time to be a reader. I think those kinds of small presses will continue to proliferate.
Meanwhile, I think all the college students who are (or soon will be) reading textbooks in e-book format will drive a mass-adoption of e-books and e-book readers in the not too distant future. Print will dominate for years to come, but e-books will grow enormously in popularity in the coming years. As that happens, I think some authors with brand names may consider cutting publishers out of the process altogether as they simply sell e-books directly to readers.
Dave: What suggestions would you give to any would-be authors out there?
Paul: Read widely and various genres. Then write, write, write. I hear constantly from aspiring writers who have this or that great idea but just can't seem to write it. Usually, they say something like "My mind races too much with my many great ideas." That's all bullshit excuse making.
Here's the thing: writers write. That's it.
Dave: This is a High Fidelity inspired question. What are your Top 5albums, bands/artists, books, movies, TV shows?
Paul:
Albums: Led Zeppelin 2, the Beatles White album, Pink Floyd's The Wall, Pearljam's Ten, the Police's Synchronicity.
Bands: Soundgarden, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, the Police, Rolling Stones
Books: The Road -- McCarthy, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay - Chabon, Stormbringer -- Moorcock, The Hobbit -- Tolkien, Falling Man - Delilo
Movies: Pulp Fiction, Memento, The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly, Return of the King, Unforgiven Dave: What’s next for you?
Paul: Several things. I've got novels coming out from Del Rey in the Star Wars line (and let me tell you what a blast it was working with the Lucasbook folks and writing in the Star Wars universe generally). The first is entitled, Crosscurrent, and will be released in January 2010. It doesn’t feature any of the characters from the movies, but instead stars a little known Jedi Knight named Jaden Korr. I'm very proud of the novel and think readers will dig it. After that, I'll be doing a sequel to Crosscurrent and then probably hanging out in the Star Wars universe for a while (at least I hope so)..
In the meanwhile, I'm shopping a supernatural thriller and working on a more traditional epic fantasy.
Dave: Any final thoughts?
Paul: There is no spoon.
*sigh*
Here is a glaring example of what is wrong with this country.
(We’d just opened one Sunday when a man comes in and robs us at gunpoint. During the robbery, the robber makes us lock the doors so no customers can come in. After he leaves, we were so upset that we didn’t think to unlock the doors. While we wait for the police to arrive, another man knocks on the door.)What in the hell is wrong with this guy?!? Seriously, if this is how far we have come then we have made zero progress as a society and probably deserve to fall. Now there are those who will say “But Dave, this was just one person.” True, but I’ve dealt with so many people with this same mentality over the years that it is staggering. I get yelled at on a daily basis because of TV. People get incensed over the fact that they have to miss a football game or that they’ll have no TV to stick their kids in front of for a few days. These people make me sick.
Customer: “Are you open? I’d like to get a coffee.”
Me: “I’m sorry, sir, we’ve just been robbed at gunpoint, so we’re a little freaked out.”
Customer: “Well, did he steal the coffee? I can still get a latte, right?!”
Currently Listening
1. “One for Eugene” by The GC5 (from Kisses from Hanoi / Horseshoes & Handgrenades)
2. “Cashing In” by Minor Threat (from Complete Discography)
3. “Tom’s Diner” by R.E.M. (from Out of Time B Sides)
4. “Falling for You” by Weezer (from Pinkerton)
5. “Get Out the Map” by Indigo Girls (from Retrospective)
6. “Little Disappeared” by Inspiral Carpets (from Revenge of the Goldfish)
7. “Waiting for Somebody” by Paul Westerberg (from Singles [Original Soundtrack])
8. “Never See Me Again” by Vivian Girls (from Vivian Girls)
9. “Wish Me Well (You Can Go to Hell)” by The Bouncing Souls (from Hopeless Romantic)
10. “Frogs” by The Flaming Lips (from Hit to Death in the Future Head)
2. “Cashing In” by Minor Threat (from Complete Discography)
3. “Tom’s Diner” by R.E.M. (from Out of Time B Sides)
4. “Falling for You” by Weezer (from Pinkerton)
5. “Get Out the Map” by Indigo Girls (from Retrospective)
6. “Little Disappeared” by Inspiral Carpets (from Revenge of the Goldfish)
7. “Waiting for Somebody” by Paul Westerberg (from Singles [Original Soundtrack])
8. “Never See Me Again” by Vivian Girls (from Vivian Girls)
9. “Wish Me Well (You Can Go to Hell)” by The Bouncing Souls (from Hopeless Romantic)
10. “Frogs” by The Flaming Lips (from Hit to Death in the Future Head)
Monday, December 14, 2009
What on Earth Evolved?
That was the subject on Talk of the Nation today and it was a fascinating conversation for those interested.
So What?
After reading this post which dealt with Houston’s election of an openly gay mayor, I was honest left asking myself “so what that she’s gay?” Why shouldn’t an individual who happens to be gay, be the mayor of a major city? Who cares if he/she is gay? How will that have any effect on how he/she will govern?
I am looking at this strictly on the issue of the candidate being gay, and not at their ideas/philosophies on policy. It seems to me that a lot of the initial reactions to this particular election have everything to do with the fact that this lady is gay and nothing to do with her stances on the issues (of which I am admittedly ignorant). What am I missing? What is wrong with a gay person becoming an elected official?
I am looking at this strictly on the issue of the candidate being gay, and not at their ideas/philosophies on policy. It seems to me that a lot of the initial reactions to this particular election have everything to do with the fact that this lady is gay and nothing to do with her stances on the issues (of which I am admittedly ignorant). What am I missing? What is wrong with a gay person becoming an elected official?
Video of the Day III
"Common People" by William Shatner
This is my second favorite song of the decade!!!!
This is my second favorite song of the decade!!!!
Out of Step
Anymore there is a lot of time that I feel all alone and out of step with the rest of the world. While at work, home, or school I feel completely disconnected and out of touch with those around me. I have friends, some very good friends in fact, but I rarely get to see them.
Part of my sense of separation I’m sure comes from the things that I am into and the beliefs that I hold. I am not like a lot of people out there and because of that it will be harder for me to find those with which I have things in common. This isn’t anything new, it just seems that lately I’ve had even less people around me. Yes there are people around me physically, like when I’m at work, but I feel like I have virtually nothing in common with any of them.
Then there is my blogging life (for lack of a better term). Here I really feel like a loner. I can think of about one blogger that I really feel is a kindred spirit. There are others that I get along with (and get along with quite well actually) but even the vast majority of these folks are on a totally different page (heck, this is even going on with my best friend…he and I talk, or text/email more accurately, on nearly a daily basis but I can tell that we are going in very different directions).
Now I’m not so naïve as to think that I will always be around those who hold the same beliefs and tastes that I do, but even so it’s frustrating all the same. It sure makes Minor Threat’s “Out of Step” seem more like my life every day.
Part of my sense of separation I’m sure comes from the things that I am into and the beliefs that I hold. I am not like a lot of people out there and because of that it will be harder for me to find those with which I have things in common. This isn’t anything new, it just seems that lately I’ve had even less people around me. Yes there are people around me physically, like when I’m at work, but I feel like I have virtually nothing in common with any of them.
Then there is my blogging life (for lack of a better term). Here I really feel like a loner. I can think of about one blogger that I really feel is a kindred spirit. There are others that I get along with (and get along with quite well actually) but even the vast majority of these folks are on a totally different page (heck, this is even going on with my best friend…he and I talk, or text/email more accurately, on nearly a daily basis but I can tell that we are going in very different directions).
Now I’m not so naïve as to think that I will always be around those who hold the same beliefs and tastes that I do, but even so it’s frustrating all the same. It sure makes Minor Threat’s “Out of Step” seem more like my life every day.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Hypothetical Question About Presidential Candidates and Political Parties
If a candidate for President were to run with the following platform, do you think he/she would do better as a Republican or as a Democrat?
- Supports legalization of all drugs
- Supports Term Limits on members of the Senate and House of Representatives
- Supports turning government issued marriage licenses into civil unions for all consenting adult couples (18 and older)
- Supports the Fair Tax
- Supports public financing of all elections
- Supports complete and total government transparency (including posting on the internet all details of proposed legislation, complete budget details, and anything else that would not give away details regarding national security)
- Supports an overall of the health care industry that promotes market based solutions, with strong government regulations, but does not include the government take over of the medical industry or a public option (may include, depending on how it is proposed, and expansion of Medicare or Medicaid, while also revisiting the compensation that both provide to doctors/hospitals to ensure that they are in line with proper market value)
- Supports an overhaul of the public education system, designed by teachers, principles, and education scholars, not bureaucrats or labor unions
Currently Listening
1. “Down by the Ocean” by Saigon Kick (from Saigon Kick)
2. “Ghostdancing” by Simple Minds (from The Best of Simple Minds Disc 1)
3. “Lost and Found” by Tripping Daisy (from Bill)
4. “What Are You Fighting For?” by Youth Brigade (from Sink with Kalifornija)
5. “I See” by Letters to Cleo (from Auror Gory Alice)
6. “For All Commons” by Those Unknown (from Those Unknown)
7. “You’re So Last Summer” by Talking Back Sunday (from Tell All Your Friends)
8. “Wave of Mutilation” by Pixies (from Doolittle)
9. “Artificial Life” by Operation Ivy (from Energy)
10. “Regret” by New Order (from The Best of New Order)
2. “Ghostdancing” by Simple Minds (from The Best of Simple Minds Disc 1)
3. “Lost and Found” by Tripping Daisy (from Bill)
4. “What Are You Fighting For?” by Youth Brigade (from Sink with Kalifornija)
5. “I See” by Letters to Cleo (from Auror Gory Alice)
6. “For All Commons” by Those Unknown (from Those Unknown)
7. “You’re So Last Summer” by Talking Back Sunday (from Tell All Your Friends)
8. “Wave of Mutilation” by Pixies (from Doolittle)
9. “Artificial Life” by Operation Ivy (from Energy)
10. “Regret” by New Order (from The Best of New Order)
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Top 100 Band Names
Paste Magazine has put together a list of the Top 100 Band Names of All Time.
Thanks to Pop Candy for the find.
Thanks to Pop Candy for the find.
Caver Wars: "Sweet Jane"
I haven't done one of these for a while. Today the song is "Sweet Jane" and the bands are The Velvet Underground and the Cowboy Junkies.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Here is the first look at the first part of the final Harry Potter film.
Thanks to A Dribble of Ink for the find.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows from Cine PREMIERE on Vimeo.
Thanks to A Dribble of Ink for the find.
Friday, December 11, 2009
The Band of the Decade: Dropkick Murphys
The band that defined the 1980s more than any other was U2. For the 00s I think that the band that truly set the standard for all others was the Dropkick Murphys. Instead of going on and on about how great this band is, I think I’ll let their music speak for itself.
My Request List to The Spy
So far I have really enjoyed the return of The Spy, but there are some great bands that I think they have overlooked in their rotation. So if anyone at The Spy is listening out there, please add music by the following bands to your regular rotation. Thank you.
The Replacements
The Minutemen
Camper Van Beethoven
The Thermals
Sebadoh
Dinosaur Jr.
Jenny Lewis
Teenage Fanclub
Rilo Kiley
Teenage Frames
Jawbreaker
Guided By Voices
The GC5
Dead To Me
Descendents
Dramarama
Dropkick Murphys
Hot Water Music
Alkaline Trio
One Man Army
Barnyard Slut
Screeching Weasel
Seaweed
Fugazi
Bishop Allen
The Bouncing Souls
Stray Cats
Buffalo Tom
The Briefs
Dead Kennedys
The Epoxies
Throw Rag
The Lazy Cowgirls
Tiger Army
Cock Sparrer
Electronic
Stiff Little Fingers
Concrete Blonde
Dag Nasty
The Donnas
J Church
The Eyeliners
Ned’s Atomic Dustbin
Devo
They Might Be Giants
Jello Biafra & Mojo Nixon
Mojo Nixon
The Devil Dogs
Husker Du
The Ducky Boys
Elastica
Face To Face
The Figgs
fIREHOSE
Fishbone
The Specials
Hagfish
The Staggers (the one from Dallas)
Madness
Interpol
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
The Get Up Kids
The Lemonheads
Flogging Molly
The Pogues
Generation X
Gorilla Biscuits
Hole
The Inciters
Hepcat
Hudson Falcons
Indigo Girls
The Independents
The Jam
Chainsaw Kittens
Red City Radio
Wakeland
The Last
Liz Phair
Lou Reed
The Kings of Nuthin’
Minor Threat
The Methadones
Me First & the Gimme Gimmes
Paul Westerberg
The Pavers
Public Image Limited
The Pipettes
Pinhead Gunpowder
Primal Scream
Rancid
Operation Ivy
Redd Kross
The Riverdales
Roustabouts
Shonen Knife
Shelter
Sixer
Avail
The Smugglers
The Shamen
US Bombs
KMFDM
Lard
Street Dogs
Sugar
The Soup Dragons
Swingin’ Utters
The Tight Bros. From Way Back When
The Melvins
Therapy?
Uncle Tupelo
Afghan Whigs
Ben Lee
Archers of Loaf
7 Seconds
ALL
Tripping Daisy
The Evangelicals
Starlight Mints
Urban Dance Squad
Sinkhole
Urge Overkill
The Business
Those Unknown
Poster Children
The Muffs
Babes in Toyland
L7
Violent Femmes
Weezer
X
Youth Brigade
Rocket from the Crypt
The Meteors
Shades Apart
Embrace
Drag the River
Chad Price
Chuck Ragan
The Riverboat Gamblers
Electric Frankenstein
Black Flag
Ministry
The Dead Milkmen
Meat Puppets
XTC
The Cramps
Bad Brains
Faith No More
Gang of Four
Naked Raygun
Julian Cope
MUdhoney
The Mr. T Experience
Screeming Trees
The Queers
Bob Mould
Soul Asylum
Robyn Hitchcock
Modern English
Madness
Sonic Youth
Gumball
Wire
Pavement
American Music Club
Bad Religion
The Smithereens
The Vaselines
The Breeders
The Damned
New York Dolls
Superchunk
Supersuckers
The Fall
The Heartbreakers
Richard Hell & the Voidoids
Dead Boys
Sham 69
Fear
The Rezillos
The Soft Boys
The Outlets
Down By Law
NOFX
The Skids
Toad the Wet Sprocket
Matthew Sweet
I think that if these bands were added to the current rotation, it would flesh out things a bit. Don’t get me wrong, they are doing a fine job but for as often as I get to listen (which is pretty much when I’m in my car) I’ve heard at least one song by The Smiths every day since the station went on the air. I love The Smiths as much as the next guy, but there is more to alternative music than the boys from Manchester. My suggestions all lean towards the punk-side of things (with a nice dose of indie rock) but there are lots of people in this town who would love to hear this stuff on the radio. I think it would also be a good idea to farm ideas out of people who are big fans of industrial and the other sub-sects found under the alternative umbrella.
This all having been said, the folks at The Spy are doing a great job and I now actually look forward to listening to the radio.
The Replacements
The Minutemen
Camper Van Beethoven
The Thermals
Sebadoh
Dinosaur Jr.
Jenny Lewis
Teenage Fanclub
Rilo Kiley
Teenage Frames
Jawbreaker
Guided By Voices
The GC5
Dead To Me
Descendents
Dramarama
Dropkick Murphys
Hot Water Music
Alkaline Trio
One Man Army
Barnyard Slut
Screeching Weasel
Seaweed
Fugazi
Bishop Allen
The Bouncing Souls
Stray Cats
Buffalo Tom
The Briefs
Dead Kennedys
The Epoxies
Throw Rag
The Lazy Cowgirls
Tiger Army
Cock Sparrer
Electronic
Stiff Little Fingers
Concrete Blonde
Dag Nasty
The Donnas
J Church
The Eyeliners
Ned’s Atomic Dustbin
Devo
They Might Be Giants
Jello Biafra & Mojo Nixon
Mojo Nixon
The Devil Dogs
Husker Du
The Ducky Boys
Elastica
Face To Face
The Figgs
fIREHOSE
Fishbone
The Specials
Hagfish
The Staggers (the one from Dallas)
Madness
Interpol
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
The Get Up Kids
The Lemonheads
Flogging Molly
The Pogues
Generation X
Gorilla Biscuits
Hole
The Inciters
Hepcat
Hudson Falcons
Indigo Girls
The Independents
The Jam
Chainsaw Kittens
Red City Radio
Wakeland
The Last
Liz Phair
Lou Reed
The Kings of Nuthin’
Minor Threat
The Methadones
Me First & the Gimme Gimmes
Paul Westerberg
The Pavers
Public Image Limited
The Pipettes
Pinhead Gunpowder
Primal Scream
Rancid
Operation Ivy
Redd Kross
The Riverdales
Roustabouts
Shonen Knife
Shelter
Sixer
Avail
The Smugglers
The Shamen
US Bombs
KMFDM
Lard
Street Dogs
Sugar
The Soup Dragons
Swingin’ Utters
The Tight Bros. From Way Back When
The Melvins
Therapy?
Uncle Tupelo
Afghan Whigs
Ben Lee
Archers of Loaf
7 Seconds
ALL
Tripping Daisy
The Evangelicals
Starlight Mints
Urban Dance Squad
Sinkhole
Urge Overkill
The Business
Those Unknown
Poster Children
The Muffs
Babes in Toyland
L7
Violent Femmes
Weezer
X
Youth Brigade
Rocket from the Crypt
The Meteors
Shades Apart
Embrace
Drag the River
Chad Price
Chuck Ragan
The Riverboat Gamblers
Electric Frankenstein
Black Flag
Ministry
The Dead Milkmen
Meat Puppets
XTC
The Cramps
Bad Brains
Faith No More
Gang of Four
Naked Raygun
Julian Cope
MUdhoney
The Mr. T Experience
Screeming Trees
The Queers
Bob Mould
Soul Asylum
Robyn Hitchcock
Modern English
Madness
Sonic Youth
Gumball
Wire
Pavement
American Music Club
Bad Religion
The Smithereens
The Vaselines
The Breeders
The Damned
New York Dolls
Superchunk
Supersuckers
The Fall
The Heartbreakers
Richard Hell & the Voidoids
Dead Boys
Sham 69
Fear
The Rezillos
The Soft Boys
The Outlets
Down By Law
NOFX
The Skids
Toad the Wet Sprocket
Matthew Sweet
I think that if these bands were added to the current rotation, it would flesh out things a bit. Don’t get me wrong, they are doing a fine job but for as often as I get to listen (which is pretty much when I’m in my car) I’ve heard at least one song by The Smiths every day since the station went on the air. I love The Smiths as much as the next guy, but there is more to alternative music than the boys from Manchester. My suggestions all lean towards the punk-side of things (with a nice dose of indie rock) but there are lots of people in this town who would love to hear this stuff on the radio. I think it would also be a good idea to farm ideas out of people who are big fans of industrial and the other sub-sects found under the alternative umbrella.
This all having been said, the folks at The Spy are doing a great job and I now actually look forward to listening to the radio.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
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