On the day I was born...
Posted on 2007-05-28 at 20:16
...the number one song on the UK Charts was "Bad Moon Rising" by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Coincidence or fortelling? You be the judge.
"Make Up" or "Make Believe"
Posted on 2007-01-21 at 15:07
There too he sculptured a broad fallow field
Of soft rish mould, thrice ploughed, and over which
Walked many a ploughman, guiding to and fro
His steers, and when on their return they reached
The border of the field the master came
To meet them, placing in the hands of each
a goblet of rich wine. Then turned they back
Along the furrows, diligent to reach
Their distant end. All dark behind the plough
The ridges lay, a marvel to the sight.
Like the field in the quote above from Homer's Illiad, these women are made into an image of beauty. It is not the dirt in the field we find beautiful nor the woman under the makeup, but rather it is the beauty, even the dignity, that our culture bestows on them that makes them pleasing to us. Aesthetic beauty and moral beauty are not easily distinguished. Like the education of our children, we move purposefully from a natural to a cultural state. It's what we do. We transform nature. We make it in our self-image as we perceive it, and when it gets too hard to do on our own, we ask for help---from ploughmen, makeup artists, painters...and each other.
I was leaving the building for the day. A co-worker was leaving at the same time. When we saw each other standing up, we gave our daily good bye's, put on our coats and left our cubes. Hollywood would have the decency to fade to black at this point, but real life is not so interested in transforming nature. No, we'd said all that needed saying. We both got up and left. Problem is, we both went the same way. So now, we are walking to the parking lot together in an awkward silence. No script was prepared. No protocol readied us for the silent walk out. I said, "So it's not so easy to get rid of me, is it?" We laughed. The moment was rescued from reality and given a cultural context---hence a beauty. As a species, we don't like ugly.
So, what does it mean to say someone is a human? I suppose it depends on who you ask, but I would argue that we are not merely complex bipedal mammal. Being human is more than that. It's about stopping to enjoy a warm fire in a winter chill, it's about having a dream, seeking out the things that are pleasing. Being human is about enjoying the beauty that we, each of us, adds to the world in which we live. I could be crass about the Hollywood makeovers in the video above, but I think I'll just be grateful to the directors, the artists, designers, scriptwriters, and air-brushers who are trying to give us a little bit more beautiful world than the one in which we find ourselves. I don't see anything wrong with that.
Were you tone deaf?
Posted on 2007-01-09 at 08:37
About a month and a half ago, I posted an entry about an online test for tone deafness. A surprising number of people took the test and mentioned their results to me. Anyway, for that reason, I now link to the aggragated results of the tone deafness test as compiled by the original author of the test. The results were, to me, interesting---especially the bits about race.
Code Monkey by Jonathan Coulton
Posted on 2006-12-09 at 10:29
Listen to Code Monkey by Jonathan Coulton.
The song is released under a Creative Commons license which allows for redistribution with very few conditions. If you like the song and want to support artists that use such liberal license terms (my posting it here in full is legal and encouraged!) you should consider putting your money where your mouth is and shoving $1 or so to the artist. Your eternal soul will thank you. :)
Are you tone deaf?
Posted on 2006-11-13 at 08:54
Test the quality of your musical ear. I scored a 72.2%. The scale is as follows:
Greater than 90%: World Class Musical Ability
Greater than 75%: Excellent Musical Ability
Greater than 60%: Good Musical Ability
Less than 50%: You may have a Pitch PErception Issue
It takes about 5 minutes or so. It was fun. Now you try.
Now THIS is a rock video!
Posted on 2006-09-02 at 15:08
A must-see, rocktacular, video of rocktabulous proportions!
It's like they put all other metal rock videos in a juicer and squeezed all the best stuff into one rocklicious cup of heavy metal poison.
Windows Media Center Edition 2005 blows vomit
Posted on 2006-08-25 at 21:55
OK. It's a bit of an overstatement, but...
When you buy a Media PC with a stereo rack component look and feel that bills itself as a replacement for your Tivo, it should be able to fill that role. Windows Media Center Edition 2005 does not. The system would go into suspend mode and require a reboot to return to normal operation. It wouldn't play many of the media files I threw at it. I understand not playing flac files out of the box (it's a bit obscure, I suppose) but many AVI files and even some MPGs were non-working. All those files, for the record, played just fine in Linux. The guide information was regularly incorrect. And finally, when I finally decided to show it to someone else, I fast forwarded through the commercials of a show only to find that it would not leave fast-forward mode.
Needless to say, the system was returned. I want to be clear, the system, an HP Media Center PC, was not the problem. The problem was entirely Mirosoft's. All the problems had patches which fixed those problems and added new ones. In the end, I found myself performing maintainence on a box that was supposed to be a stereo rack component. I don't have to do this for my DVD player, nor for my extant Tivo. I don't feel that I should have to do it for my Tivo Replacement.
Total satisfaction score: 3 out of a possible 10. The idea has promise, but the software implementation was a miserable failure. I suspect MythTV would have been a better choice for HP to put under the hood.
Now Playing
Posted on 2006-04-09 at 21:57
Then you came along with your siren of song
To tempt me to madness!
I thought for a while that your poignant smile was tinged with the sadness
Of a great love for me.
Now Playing
Posted on 2005-11-09 at 08:03
I Wanna Be Sedated by The Ramones from their Road to Ruin album.
The latest in drool-worthy accessories
Posted on 2005-11-09 at 08:02
The iRiver U10 portable media player is one of those things that I want five of. If I have a wealthy benefactor or patron out there reading this, now you know what you can get me for Christmas...or Thanksgiving...or next friday.
And if you aren't my wealthy benefactor or patron, just rember that it's never to late to correct that mistake.
Now Playing
Posted on 2005-10-31 at 08:04
Cecilia Bartoli performing Caldara's "Vanne Pentita A Piangere"
Now Playing
Posted on 2005-10-12 at 08:03
Al Di Meola's "Theme of the Mother Ship". This is from one of his best albums, "Heart of the Immigrants"
Now Playing
Posted on 2005-10-11 at 08:03
Tears For Fears' "I Believe". I believe that if you thought for a moment, took your time / You would not resign yourself to your fate. That was a great band.
Surreal Thoughts
Posted on 2005-10-11 at 08:02
I found out yesterday that I live on the same street as Missy Elliott. That's who lives in that house down Indian River Road across from Indian River Plantation. So, does this mean I'm in a good part of the city, because I have a famous person living down the street? Weird.
Going to China!
Posted on 2005-08-29 at 08:01
I just received the preliminary itinerary for my trip to China. Looks like I'll be leaving here this weekend (OhMyGodThatsSoQuickImFreakingOut!) and won't be coming back until the 22nd of September. Specifically, I'm set to leave on September 7th (next Wednesday) but because Denise and I plan to hit Beijing first for 3 days, that means leaving Saturday or Sunday. Seems like I have almost no time at all now.
Current mood: Wow!
Now Playing: Willis Alan Ramsey's "Muskrat Love" Nibbling on bacon, chewin' on cheese (Hey I'm on hold. Don't blame me!)
More on the Blues Traveller concert
Posted on 2005-08-05 at 08:05
Well, enough people have asked for details that I suppose I should offer some review of the Blues Traveller concert at the Norva.
The structure of the show was uninspired. Blues Traveller was preceded by a local band; a nameless rock group whose music didn't much compliment the works of the headliner, but which---in and of itself---was well enough performed and displayed an acceptable measure of talent and creativity. Blues Traveller came after the local band had finished inflicting their unrequested works upon us. They performed many of their most popular songs, then left the stage. Was I to beleive that they were finished? Of course not. Predictably, they trotted out an encore wherein they played two songs that were among their larger commercial successes. What luck that they had those works in the barrel---cocked and loaded. The structure, as I said, was uninspired---as predictable as the blinking blue colon of my silver alarm clock.
The structure of the event not withstanding, I enjoyed myself. Why? Because even if the structure was banal, the performance was not. The band's songs were played with energy and enthusiasm.
The music had an energy and the crowd felt it. It was not so with the opening band, who were technically as proficient as the headliner. While I liked the music of the openers, their work drained me. I felt buffeted by their music. It was as though the music took more than it gave. They have potential, but they must learn to be more generous in their performance. They worked music. They didn't play it. The difference was, to me, obvious.
But the headliner, Blues Traveller, was not so stingy with their musical energy. With amps pushed to the same deafening setting of 11, vocals just as bled out and distorted as the openers, and songs no more profound than any popular band of their time, they managed to offer a performance that gave far more than it took. I spent the night energized, and enjoying the music. I felt more like a participant than an audience member. This was music that grabbed me by the t-shirt, dragged me to the stage, and forced an air guitar into my surprisingly deft hands.
What more can you demand from a concert than to close your eyes and feel like you are up there with them?
Blues Traveller Concert
Posted on 2005-08-04 at 08:01
I went to see the Blues Traveller concert at the Norva Tuesday night (the 2nd). Good concert. Small venue for the band. That's all.
Now Playing
Posted on 2005-07-17 at 08:02
London Booted: Dunproofin': Bubba's Got a Brand New Cadillac
We don't need no education...
Posted on 2004-11-28 at 08:02
But a little dough wouldn't hurt. Lawyers, leave them kids alone!
So now he does give a crap?
Posted on 2004-10-29 at 08:01
Apparently Eminem just caused a bit of a ruckus with a video he released today called "Mosh" (REAL|WMV). A quote from the song:
"Let the President answer on high anarchy/Strap him with an AK-47, let him go/Fight his own war/ Let him impress daddy that way/No more blood for oil, we got our battles to fight on our own soil,"
It's quite a departure from his detached don't-give-a-crap image. A visually interesting video too.
Astronaut
Posted on 2004-10-04 at 08:03
Duran Duran is coming out with a new album. No, I'm not recommending it or looking forward to it or anything, just thought it was interesting. Apparently the original five members are back together on this album. Astronaut will be the first album they were all together for since Seven and the Ragged Tiger came out in 1983! Not insignificant, since the last good album they put out was Seven and the Ragged Tiger! I liked their first three albums (Duran Duran, Rio, and Seven and the Ragged Tiger) but found their later work to be kinda off. Some was good (the informally named Wedding Album) but most was just a bit off. I wouldn't buy an RIAA-sponsored album, anyway, but I admit to being intrigued.
If I did, but I don't, so I won't, but if I did....
Posted on 2004-10-01 at 08:03
So, as everyone knows I've been boycotting the RIAA's music since around 1997 or so. The only new music I get is from non-RIAA artists who actually want me to hear their stuff. That said, I saw Nellie McKay on David Letterman a few months ago and I've been interested in her music ever since. I downloaded the free stuff she put out, but I won't buy her CD (boycott and all that). Maybe if she comes into town on tour I'll go see her.
Hip T's and Supporting the Artist
Posted on 2004-08-11 at 08:03
I decided to throw some support toward DJ Dangermouse for being willing to make the Grey Album and take the heat for it. I bought his shirt. It arrived yesterday. Signed and numbered, too. Neat. Number 48, by the way.
DJ Danger Mouse
Posted on 2004-08-05 at 08:02
Dude. The Grey Album is sweet! It's a banned remix taking the full lyrical content from JayZ's Black Album and the music from the Beatles' White Album and making something new and cool. Good work!
A casualty of society
Posted on 2004-07-21 at 08:02
This song has been stuck in my head for a weekl or so now. It's great scream therapy! Nothing like riding down the road screaming out the lyrics to a solid angry-youth song. :-)