Welcome to 2007 everyone. Let's jump right in.
My last few posts have been somewhat introspective, so I thought this time I'd take a look at some things (music, movies, popular trends, etc.) that are in the news and comment on them. Then you can wear my opinions like a favorite hat. You can walk around displaying these opinions, and passersby will whisper to each other, "That's a Weishampel, how eloquent!"
THE INTERNET 2.0 / USER-PRODUCED CONTENT / TIME'S "PERSON OF THE YEAR" AWARD
First, I'd like to note the irony of the fact that I am using a blog to expound the opinions I am about to expound. Yes, yes, without user-produced content I couldn't write this, just as without money and private publishing houses I couldn't buy books on socialism (Chomsky 4 LIFE!). So I am, at this point, caught up in the web of user-produced content.
I know some of you are turned off by the website www.somethingawful.com, but if you go to their front page article for Thursday, January 11, you will find a rather forceful and well-written article critiquing Time for conferring their "Person of the Year" award on "you", the internet user. I agree with the major thrust of the article: it is illusory to content that websites such as MySpace, Facebook, and YouTube are really democratizing the internet. MySpace, Facebook, and YouTube actually have very little intrinsic value, except for hosting purposes. They don't produce content and they don't really stimulate users in any way. I think a valuable metaphor for these websites would be as follows:
Imagine yourself walking down a broad street. I'm thinking maybe Broad Boulevard in beautiful Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. But now imagine there are no cars. Also, people are lined up along both sides of the street and along either side of the center median, about one person every fifteen feet. These people are talking - not to anyone, just talking. They are saying: "I enjoy the following movies: Boondock Saints, Scarface, Gigli, etc." They are not talking to one another, just kind of rambling. And you? You are walking down the street, just looking at everyone rambling about who they are and what they like. You can skip to faces you know, sure. But the problem is, if you already know the person in question, you are unlikely to discover anything new; if you do not know the person in question this information is of little significance.
Also, every hundred feet or so there is a booth with a flashing sign instructing you to "SWAT THE MOSQITO AND WIN A LAPTOP!!" or asking you "IS GEORGE W. BUSH DOING A GOOD JOB?" or tempting you to "MEET SEXY SINGLES IN YOUR AREA" such as "GORGOUS GINA 23/F". For this Broad Boulevard has attained a value of $1.5 billion.
Don't get me wrong; I don't think these forums are evil or anything like that. They're just a lot more inane than we realize. If you know someone, and you want to find out some of their favorite movies, ask. Or tell leading questions / stories.
Also, the actual users of these sites can be simpletons, racists, cocky fifteen-year-olds, or what have you. So just keep your browser on addictinggames.com.
BUSH'S PLAN IN IRAQ
Just stop, asshole. You're not going to win. You can't crush this insurgency without a permanent occupation that would require a draft and that would breed unfathomable resentment in the Middle East and beyond. We've gotten to the point where a majority of Americans who self-identify as conservative do not want a troop escalation - and yet the president still asks for it. This is because he knows he can come off as "strong and decisive" and then blame the people on the ground when things don't go right.
This man's hubris knows no bounds.
Also, he used a signing statement to contradict directly a law he signed. Late last year, congress passed some bill or other that included a provision that the president or members of the executive branch could not open mail without such and such legal provisions. I'm too lazy right now to look it up. Anyway, in his signing statement - an interpretation of certain provisions of a law made by the executive when he / she signs a law - Bush said he could open people's mail if he - or a person or agency under his thumb - deemed it important to national security. To review:
BILL / LAW: Bush cannot open mail.
BUSH: Bush can open mail.
Ugh.
FINALLY, SOME MUSIC
This is where I pick three albums and review them in a few words. Then you go to www.napster.com, register a FREE account, and listen to the album. If you wish. No, no. I won't be long-winded like http://bassdrumsguitar.blogspot.com and give you a "full review" with "thoughtful comments", but maybe I'll turn you on to something new.
1. Minus the Bear - "Highly Refined Pirates"
Minus the Bear may be the musical incarnation of "quirky". Fortunately, they are also one incarnation of "rhythmic," "melodic," and just plain "talented". Chirpy, atmospheric guitar sounds meet nagging ennui in this highly recommended record.
Pros: skilled instrumentalists, a unique sound, both gentle and intense, creative lyrics.
Cons: over the course of an album, the guitar tone might put the listener to sleep; lyrics get difficult to relate to.
Madden rating: 89.
2. The Cure - "Disintegration"
One of the best popular songwriters of all time is in top form for his band's opus. "Disintegration" is widely regarded as The Cure's masterpiece, and rightly so. Though the album has an emotional range that runs from apathy to depression to sad reminisence, it's hard to imagine writing a better album that more perfectly encapsulates those emotions. "Disintegration" really makes you feel good about being bad.
Musically, it can wear on one's ears, and the song lengths are an accurate representation of how long the songs feel. But you,...you just have to hear it.
Pros: Near perfect song-construction, many instruments share the same space very well, the mood of the album and of each song is musically represented with less cliche than one might expect (no song hammers home its point with too strong a hammer).
Cons: Very difficult to get through all at once. Inclines one to being alone for the rest of the night. Does not go over well at parties. (Well, I've never actually tried.)
Madden rating: 98.
3. The Meat Puppets - "No Joke"
Hopes were high for the Meat Puppets in 1995. After 15 years together, the band had broken big in 1994 with an appearance on Nirvana's "Unplugged" album and a hit single in "Backwater". But with "No Joke," aka "Bad Joke," they dropped the ball with stunning aplomb.
Do not listen to this album. Buy pretty much any Meat Puppets album but this.
Pros: "Eyeball" is catchy. As is "Cobbler". I think.
Cons: What once was quirky and charming is now simply annoying. Meat Puppets lyrics before were no-ego explorations of the band's drug-induced world; on "No Joke" they were winking hipster invitations to critique society. And not in a good way. And the music - once whimsical and breakneck - was all sludged up.
Madden grade: 62.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Holy shit guys, it's been forever since I posted
Yup. Two whole weeks. I'm going to have to work at this updating thing.
I'm quite sure I'm not the only one who's routinely depressed by the end of the year. The conclusion of another calendar year forces us to examine all we have accomplished - especially as against what we had hoped to accomplish - in the previous twelve months. And as long as I can remember, I've never quite done what I wanted with a year.
Twelve months ago, I was living with my parents without a job. At this time, it was still excusable - if I had still been in college, I would have been between semesters, gearing up for graduate school at Univ------- or ---------- Univ. Things are a little different now. In February, I will move into my sixth abode in two years (Kiefaber, Stonemill, 3184, Rogers Park, Ukrainian Village, and X). I have a job now, that's nice. And some friends in the city. No band though, that's really the killer.
I think in the last twelve months I've really matured and grown up in my ability just to handle myself in a city environment. It's hard for me to elucidate precisely how this manifests itself, but I'm sure to others it's quite obvious. This is not to say that I'm averse to having my ass dragged around by someone in a car when possible.
I've also grown musically in the last twelve months, thanks to a merciless raiding of Ben's music folders and regular visits to neighborhood record stores. Not that it has helped me write songs, but I can hear more of what is possible. I remember the heady, halcyon days of musical knowledge when, as a college freshman, I would use audiogalaxy to expand my musical horizons without having to reach into my pocket. To think that I randomly downloaded an of montreal song four years before anyone knew who they were! Discoveries such as that made me an advocate of free musical downloading for life. (Not that anyone ever asked.) After such sites were closed, I got into musical oddities. Unable to find music that spoke the truth to my ears, I sought music that told the most fantastic stories. Now it feels as though I can hear again.
But I can't write, at least for the moment.
But on to other subjects.
If you don't already know who Genarlow Wilson is, I suggest you find out. Racism? Puritannical moralizing? Either way, you've got to be outraged by his story. Genarlow is a 17-year-old African-American boy who was sentenced to ten years in jail for...receiving oral sex from a 15-year-old at a party. Wow. That's worth ten years, for sure. Destroy his life for one consensual sex act. It's kind of hard to read about this and believe that it's happening in the United States of America (well, Georgia, at least), but it is.
Well, I'm about out of words.
RESOLUTIONS:
1. Perform songs that I've written, either solo or with a band, in 2007. This is pivotal; if I accomplish nothing but this, I will be happy.
2. Become more outgoing, even at bars. Yes, it's OK to talk to people.
3. Lose (more) weight.
4. Reconnect with old friends.
5. Be more spontaneous.
6. Learn German, in case I end up going to grad school. (if that occurs, I will most likely be specializing in European history.)
7. (You, the reader, can suggest a resolution).
I'm quite sure I'm not the only one who's routinely depressed by the end of the year. The conclusion of another calendar year forces us to examine all we have accomplished - especially as against what we had hoped to accomplish - in the previous twelve months. And as long as I can remember, I've never quite done what I wanted with a year.
Twelve months ago, I was living with my parents without a job. At this time, it was still excusable - if I had still been in college, I would have been between semesters, gearing up for graduate school at Univ------- or ---------- Univ. Things are a little different now. In February, I will move into my sixth abode in two years (Kiefaber, Stonemill, 3184, Rogers Park, Ukrainian Village, and X). I have a job now, that's nice. And some friends in the city. No band though, that's really the killer.
I think in the last twelve months I've really matured and grown up in my ability just to handle myself in a city environment. It's hard for me to elucidate precisely how this manifests itself, but I'm sure to others it's quite obvious. This is not to say that I'm averse to having my ass dragged around by someone in a car when possible.
I've also grown musically in the last twelve months, thanks to a merciless raiding of Ben's music folders and regular visits to neighborhood record stores. Not that it has helped me write songs, but I can hear more of what is possible. I remember the heady, halcyon days of musical knowledge when, as a college freshman, I would use audiogalaxy to expand my musical horizons without having to reach into my pocket. To think that I randomly downloaded an of montreal song four years before anyone knew who they were! Discoveries such as that made me an advocate of free musical downloading for life. (Not that anyone ever asked.) After such sites were closed, I got into musical oddities. Unable to find music that spoke the truth to my ears, I sought music that told the most fantastic stories. Now it feels as though I can hear again.
But I can't write, at least for the moment.
But on to other subjects.
If you don't already know who Genarlow Wilson is, I suggest you find out. Racism? Puritannical moralizing? Either way, you've got to be outraged by his story. Genarlow is a 17-year-old African-American boy who was sentenced to ten years in jail for...receiving oral sex from a 15-year-old at a party. Wow. That's worth ten years, for sure. Destroy his life for one consensual sex act. It's kind of hard to read about this and believe that it's happening in the United States of America (well, Georgia, at least), but it is.
Well, I'm about out of words.
RESOLUTIONS:
1. Perform songs that I've written, either solo or with a band, in 2007. This is pivotal; if I accomplish nothing but this, I will be happy.
2. Become more outgoing, even at bars. Yes, it's OK to talk to people.
3. Lose (more) weight.
4. Reconnect with old friends.
5. Be more spontaneous.
6. Learn German, in case I end up going to grad school. (if that occurs, I will most likely be specializing in European history.)
7. (You, the reader, can suggest a resolution).
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Thrilling, thrilling background on my life
OK everyone.
This will be a general background post about my life to catch everyone up to speed on what I've been doing. Then, in the future, the blog will run more concurrently with whatever issues I'm facing in my life at the time. But it won't all be e/n posts about my favorite gyro place closing, or whatever. I'll do some reviews of books I've read, movies I've watched, music I've listened to, or dragons I've slain. For those of you who read my last blog, I am also going to make a better effort to keep up on this blog. I mean that.
So...my life as of today.
I work as a law clerk. It's not exciting, but I do like the regularity. I'm doin' OK, too, I think. I don't lose things and I'm actually learning a bit about the field (delinquent tax law). It's a 9 to 5. Yes, I have a 9 to 5.
Music is at a dead end. I am fairly neurotic about practicing my physical execution skills for at least an hour. Then I realize I've been neglecting some style of playing or another, so I practice for another forty-five minutes. Then I put the guitar down. I don't write very much and I'm not playing with a band. These two factors are feeding on each other to make me angry and desparate. I don't even really know what style I want to play. Belle & Sebastian? Sounds great. Shellac? I'm open to it. Of Montreal? Of course! Hum? I can dig it. So that's really pretty terrible except that I'm keeping up / developing my skills for when something happens / I make something happen.
Housing just took a turn for the shitty about thirty minutes ago. I live with two roommates, and now BOTH are moving out, rather than just one. I already knew Chris was going to Los Angeles for a job. He's leaving Saturday but has pledged to pay rent through January. Now it turns out that Mike is just moving so he can be "closer to the blue line", i.e., for the hell of it. Which leaves me the sole occupant of a three-person apartment that's not close to the el in a mediocre neighborhood. Safe and cheap, but not desirable in any way, shape, or form. So I'm pretty sure I'm going to move. I've got one eye on a neighborhood I probably cannot afford and don't know that much about, and the other eye is roving for a nice place. Maybe Cabrini Green. On the other hand, I could pursue roommates...we do know a 33 year old who still lives with his parents, so perhaps he'd like this place.
Certain other elements of my life, however, almost certainly hold the seeds of either happiness or disaster. An update is forthcoming when I convince myself that my life is not a Mobius strip. Or just pathetic.
Lest you think everything in my life is awful...well a lot of it is right now and the other half is mediocre. BUT, I will be travelling to Dayton for New Year's. It's going to be fun. I'm just waiting to see what kind of time off I will get around New Year's...then I will buy my bus ticket and be off for Ms. Lora's New Year's party! Oh, and I will totally freeload and crash at someone's place.
Please leave comments / insults / the name of your blog.
Joe
This will be a general background post about my life to catch everyone up to speed on what I've been doing. Then, in the future, the blog will run more concurrently with whatever issues I'm facing in my life at the time. But it won't all be e/n posts about my favorite gyro place closing, or whatever. I'll do some reviews of books I've read, movies I've watched, music I've listened to, or dragons I've slain. For those of you who read my last blog, I am also going to make a better effort to keep up on this blog. I mean that.
So...my life as of today.
I work as a law clerk. It's not exciting, but I do like the regularity. I'm doin' OK, too, I think. I don't lose things and I'm actually learning a bit about the field (delinquent tax law). It's a 9 to 5. Yes, I have a 9 to 5.
Music is at a dead end. I am fairly neurotic about practicing my physical execution skills for at least an hour. Then I realize I've been neglecting some style of playing or another, so I practice for another forty-five minutes. Then I put the guitar down. I don't write very much and I'm not playing with a band. These two factors are feeding on each other to make me angry and desparate. I don't even really know what style I want to play. Belle & Sebastian? Sounds great. Shellac? I'm open to it. Of Montreal? Of course! Hum? I can dig it. So that's really pretty terrible except that I'm keeping up / developing my skills for when something happens / I make something happen.
Housing just took a turn for the shitty about thirty minutes ago. I live with two roommates, and now BOTH are moving out, rather than just one. I already knew Chris was going to Los Angeles for a job. He's leaving Saturday but has pledged to pay rent through January. Now it turns out that Mike is just moving so he can be "closer to the blue line", i.e., for the hell of it. Which leaves me the sole occupant of a three-person apartment that's not close to the el in a mediocre neighborhood. Safe and cheap, but not desirable in any way, shape, or form. So I'm pretty sure I'm going to move. I've got one eye on a neighborhood I probably cannot afford and don't know that much about, and the other eye is roving for a nice place. Maybe Cabrini Green. On the other hand, I could pursue roommates...we do know a 33 year old who still lives with his parents, so perhaps he'd like this place.
Certain other elements of my life, however, almost certainly hold the seeds of either happiness or disaster. An update is forthcoming when I convince myself that my life is not a Mobius strip. Or just pathetic.
Lest you think everything in my life is awful...well a lot of it is right now and the other half is mediocre. BUT, I will be travelling to Dayton for New Year's. It's going to be fun. I'm just waiting to see what kind of time off I will get around New Year's...then I will buy my bus ticket and be off for Ms. Lora's New Year's party! Oh, and I will totally freeload and crash at someone's place.
Please leave comments / insults / the name of your blog.
Joe
Sunday, December 3, 2006
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