Ok, after the heaviness of the last post, I need to decompress a bit. I figure a quick flick review will do the trick.
Watched PROOF (on DVD)last night.
Starring Gwyneth Paltrow (Shakespeare in Love, the Talented Mr. Ripley, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, et al),
Jake Gyllenhaal (October Sky, the Day After Tomorrow, Jarhead, and the ever infamous Brokeback Mountain), and
Sir Anthony Hopkins (too many great films to list, but for a sampling Silence of the Lambs, the Mask of Zorro, Magic, the Elephant Man, Dracula, Nixon, and so on and so forth)
The story itself is rather simplistic. A famous mathematician, Robert (Hopkins), has died after many years of mental illness. His daughter Catherine (Paltrow) has cared for him for the last five. A young professor, Hal (Gyllenhaal), whom Robert tutored and mentored through Hal's Doctoral thesis, is looking through Robert's notebooks (all 109 of them) to see if he could find any breakthroughs in math that Robert might have been working on. (Robert was reputed to have influenced three different spheres of science with his work when he was in his 20's.) While not out-and-out stated, it is implied that Robert suffered from schizophrenia. What's also implied is that Catherine may also suffer from it. Hal confides in Catherine what he's searching for. Catherine shows him a notebook containing a 40 page mathematical proof that, if found to be sound, would once again radically change an area of math. After a brief argument involving Hal, Catherine, and Catherine's bitch sister Claire (played to malevolent excellence by Hope Davis), it's revealed that the proof was written, not by Robert, but by Catherine. Hal cannot accept this, as Catherine dropped out of college to take care of her father. The remainder of the movie deals with Hal trying to "prove" the proof, and Catherine trying to deal with Claire's mechanizations to get Catherine to move from Chicago to New York so Claire "can take care of you." In Catherine's mind (and not unrightly so), this actually means big sister has found a nice mental hospital to put Catherine away in and keep her out of embarrassing view.
The character interaction is honest. Hopkins is, as always, brilliant. While he is not in the majority of the movie, the scenes that he is in are HIS. Paltrow does an excellent job of holding her own against this cinematic juggernaught (she, also, is an Oscar winner, so is no slouch in the scene-control game). Gyllenhaal's character grows on you, like most of the characters he's portrayed in recent memory. And Hope Davis' Claire makes me want to come up with some creative forms of assassination.
PROOF is not a great film. I dubbed it "A Beautiful Life, part 2" as I watched the opening scenes. However, it does not overextend itself. It doesn't pretend to be something more than it is: a drama about the human interaction surrounding the death of a beloved, but very disturbed man. The geek in me wishes they'd spend more time discussing the math, but it's really irrelevant to the overall story. And while it doesn't have a definitive ending, it's not an unsatisfying conclusion. It's like working on a proof: sometimes you come to the wrong conclusion, and so you go back and rework things and figure out where you made your mistake and correct it.
Other than one superfluous love scene, this was a decent little movie that I recommend to folks who like drama with geek overtones. Three stars.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
God and Church - mutually exclusive
Have you ever wondered how you could have possibly turned into the person you currently are? Look back at your upbringing, look at your parents and go... WTF?!?!
My parents visited for the weekend. Haven't seen them in awhile, but I always dread them coming (a little). No matter what I've done, what I've accomplished, what I've achieved, it's not what they would have me do. Or more specifically, my mother.
Don't get me wrong, I love my folks. But it's just amazing to me where my life lies, as opposed to where I "should" be, according to my mother's plan.
This time around, its my lack of going to church. Or more specifically, my lack of taking my sons to church. As I've stated before, I'm a Christian. I follow CHRIST. I was raised in a church environment (my father was a Nazarene pastor for 15 years) and so there is a strong moral and ethical code in my background. Unfortunately, there is also a strong religious and dogmatic code in my background as well. My parents fully believe that if I'm not involved with some church that I'm a miserable failure, that they are miserable failures, and that my children are doomed to become the juvenile delinquents that my mother expects them to become.
My mother works in juvenile corrections for the state of Washington. She sees, on a near daily basis (or so she claims), what happens when "good kids fall in with the wrong people." My question is this: what is a "good person?" Who are "wrong people?" Those are relatively simply questions on the big picture. Good people are those folks who obey the laws, respect their elders, are kind to animals, and so forth. Wrong people are those who have poor habits (drug abuse, crime tendencies, weak moral fiber, etc.)
But how can I take her seriously when I've seen, first hand, what CHRISTIANS do in the name of GOD? My own mother will break laws for her own convenience if it isn't hurting anyone (she hasn't met a speed limit yet that she liked - at least if SHE'S behind the wheel of the automobile). She used my computer without so much as a by-your-leave. She lectures me on how I should get my boys into a church youth group, before they "fall in with the wrong crowd."
When I was of an age, the dichotomy at church was WORSE than the one at school. At least at school, if people didn't care to be around you, you would be ignored. The only time I felt like I was "wanted" by anyone in the youth group (with one very important exception), was when we did Bible quizzing or we had some choir activity. I was a good little sheep growing up, and tried my best to follow the golden rule, even if the result was golden showers for me.
I respected my parents and all other "elders" when other kids my age were throwing fits in the front foyer, acting in ways that would have gotten me clocked. I tried to be obedient and helpful and uplifting, when inside I wanted to be rebellious, disorderly, selfish.
My mother informs me that, to this day, there are people that ask how I (and my sister and her family) are doing and that "we always liked your two kids, they were so respectful." Know what, Mom? I didn't learn it in church. Church was were you dragged me to because you had to. You couldn't get a sitter, and it would have looked really bad for the son of a preacher man to stay home because he "didn't like church."
My best friend (other than my wife) remembered and reminded me that when I was younger - 5th, 6th grade - that I didn't like church THEN. I have tried to go to church since leaving the nest. I've gone to four different churches in the last 15 years. Spent significant amounts of my time and energy being involved with these congregations. And THREE of those churches have or had MAJOR trouble while I was there or soon after I left. I'm not saying I jinxed these congregations. But I will say that their problems didn't generally come from Bible issues. They came from personality issues and dogma issues. What color the fridge should be in the kitchen. Whether or not there should be onions in the potato salad at the annual 4th of July picnic. Which direction the pulpit should face. You get the idea.
So when my mother looks me in the face, and with great concern tells me I should get my kids into a church group, in the back of my head I have to ask "Why? It didn't do me any good. In fact, it started me down a road of doubt. Not of my faith in God - that is unwavering. My faith in my fellow
"Christians." If being Christian is to be a "little Christ" (which is what the word is supposed to mean), why do so many Christians hate. Other sects, other religions... KKK - claims to be Christian organization. Nazi's purported to be following God's commands. Nazarenes hate Masons (at least they did when I was a kid) because "they have secret ceremonies" - guess what? Anyone who's ever walked into a communion service, a baptism, or an alter call who's never been exposed to those activities would think they were "secret ceremonies" as well because they are not always expained. Catholics hate Jews (or at least that's what I have seen in the news and what Hollywood shows us) because "they killed Jesus" - guess what? If Jesus hadn't wanted to die, our sins wouldn't have been paid for and we'd ALL be going to Hell! Baptists hate... everybody not Baptist, but specifically Catholics, because "they worship the Pope and the Virgin Mary" - guess what? ANY pastor who's in a pulpit for longer than 5 years has to be re-assessed: is it because he's an effective leader, a successful shepherd, or is he being "worshiped" by his congregation? And as far as the Virgin Mary, we Protestants have a lot to learn about respect and reverance. Mary was honored by Almighty GOD to be the vessel that carried His SON made flesh!!! If that doesn't deserve some respect, then I'd like to know what your priorities are. All this unfounded hated is ridiculous, nay STUPID, and it is wrong.
God loves all of us. Why can't we love each other?
To all you "religious" folk out there, ask yourself this: if Jesus were here today, who would he be having dinner with?
a) you
b) your pastor
c) the Pope
d) a drug addicted single-mom, working as a prostitute to feed here kids
My answer is "d" because Jesus mission was to spread love, not condemnation. Who else needs more love than option d?
I love God. I love Jesus. But I'm really disappointed with his followers. And that includes my parents.
My parents visited for the weekend. Haven't seen them in awhile, but I always dread them coming (a little). No matter what I've done, what I've accomplished, what I've achieved, it's not what they would have me do. Or more specifically, my mother.
Don't get me wrong, I love my folks. But it's just amazing to me where my life lies, as opposed to where I "should" be, according to my mother's plan.
This time around, its my lack of going to church. Or more specifically, my lack of taking my sons to church. As I've stated before, I'm a Christian. I follow CHRIST. I was raised in a church environment (my father was a Nazarene pastor for 15 years) and so there is a strong moral and ethical code in my background. Unfortunately, there is also a strong religious and dogmatic code in my background as well. My parents fully believe that if I'm not involved with some church that I'm a miserable failure, that they are miserable failures, and that my children are doomed to become the juvenile delinquents that my mother expects them to become.
My mother works in juvenile corrections for the state of Washington. She sees, on a near daily basis (or so she claims), what happens when "good kids fall in with the wrong people." My question is this: what is a "good person?" Who are "wrong people?" Those are relatively simply questions on the big picture. Good people are those folks who obey the laws, respect their elders, are kind to animals, and so forth. Wrong people are those who have poor habits (drug abuse, crime tendencies, weak moral fiber, etc.)
But how can I take her seriously when I've seen, first hand, what CHRISTIANS do in the name of GOD? My own mother will break laws for her own convenience if it isn't hurting anyone (she hasn't met a speed limit yet that she liked - at least if SHE'S behind the wheel of the automobile). She used my computer without so much as a by-your-leave. She lectures me on how I should get my boys into a church youth group, before they "fall in with the wrong crowd."
When I was of an age, the dichotomy at church was WORSE than the one at school. At least at school, if people didn't care to be around you, you would be ignored. The only time I felt like I was "wanted" by anyone in the youth group (with one very important exception), was when we did Bible quizzing or we had some choir activity. I was a good little sheep growing up, and tried my best to follow the golden rule, even if the result was golden showers for me.
I respected my parents and all other "elders" when other kids my age were throwing fits in the front foyer, acting in ways that would have gotten me clocked. I tried to be obedient and helpful and uplifting, when inside I wanted to be rebellious, disorderly, selfish.
My mother informs me that, to this day, there are people that ask how I (and my sister and her family) are doing and that "we always liked your two kids, they were so respectful." Know what, Mom? I didn't learn it in church. Church was were you dragged me to because you had to. You couldn't get a sitter, and it would have looked really bad for the son of a preacher man to stay home because he "didn't like church."
My best friend (other than my wife) remembered and reminded me that when I was younger - 5th, 6th grade - that I didn't like church THEN. I have tried to go to church since leaving the nest. I've gone to four different churches in the last 15 years. Spent significant amounts of my time and energy being involved with these congregations. And THREE of those churches have or had MAJOR trouble while I was there or soon after I left. I'm not saying I jinxed these congregations. But I will say that their problems didn't generally come from Bible issues. They came from personality issues and dogma issues. What color the fridge should be in the kitchen. Whether or not there should be onions in the potato salad at the annual 4th of July picnic. Which direction the pulpit should face. You get the idea.
So when my mother looks me in the face, and with great concern tells me I should get my kids into a church group, in the back of my head I have to ask "Why? It didn't do me any good. In fact, it started me down a road of doubt. Not of my faith in God - that is unwavering. My faith in my fellow
"Christians." If being Christian is to be a "little Christ" (which is what the word is supposed to mean), why do so many Christians hate. Other sects, other religions... KKK - claims to be Christian organization. Nazi's purported to be following God's commands. Nazarenes hate Masons (at least they did when I was a kid) because "they have secret ceremonies" - guess what? Anyone who's ever walked into a communion service, a baptism, or an alter call who's never been exposed to those activities would think they were "secret ceremonies" as well because they are not always expained. Catholics hate Jews (or at least that's what I have seen in the news and what Hollywood shows us) because "they killed Jesus" - guess what? If Jesus hadn't wanted to die, our sins wouldn't have been paid for and we'd ALL be going to Hell! Baptists hate... everybody not Baptist, but specifically Catholics, because "they worship the Pope and the Virgin Mary" - guess what? ANY pastor who's in a pulpit for longer than 5 years has to be re-assessed: is it because he's an effective leader, a successful shepherd, or is he being "worshiped" by his congregation? And as far as the Virgin Mary, we Protestants have a lot to learn about respect and reverance. Mary was honored by Almighty GOD to be the vessel that carried His SON made flesh!!! If that doesn't deserve some respect, then I'd like to know what your priorities are. All this unfounded hated is ridiculous, nay STUPID, and it is wrong.
God loves all of us. Why can't we love each other?
To all you "religious" folk out there, ask yourself this: if Jesus were here today, who would he be having dinner with?
a) you
b) your pastor
c) the Pope
d) a drug addicted single-mom, working as a prostitute to feed here kids
My answer is "d" because Jesus mission was to spread love, not condemnation. Who else needs more love than option d?
I love God. I love Jesus. But I'm really disappointed with his followers. And that includes my parents.
Monday, May 22, 2006
Mental spewing with no true content or cohesion
So there I was in the Land of Make Believe, and Mr. Rogers is just WAILING on me with a baseball bat.
I ask him, "What's your beef, McDude?"
He says, "You hid my favorite sweater and now my sneakers are making funny noises, you little -"
Hold up, wait a minute, Mr. Rogers would NEVER say something like that...
Rewind...
So there I was, standing before the Wizard of Oz, squinting because all the green is giving me a bitchkitty of a headache. He opens his mouth to say something profound and this fly flies right out of his enormous head.
"Dude," I say, as calmly as my jade-blinded mind can cope with, "There was a fly in your noggin'!"
"Of course!" he shrieks, sounding more like the Wicked Witch of the West than Oz, the great and terrible. "How else do you keep ideas buzzing in your head?"
WHAT?!?!?
Rewind...
So I'm on the shores of an unknown lake in the middle of nowhere, tied to a pole, being hefted by two pot-bellied tribesmen with stew on the minds and blades on their belts. It does not look so good for our hero. Must be something I said, because I THOUGHT I'd said "I'd like to meet your leader." Probably said something like "Noodles grope your daughter." Dang foreign languages...
One of the tribes men says "Ungah ge karow mit grobe tun dic warbal tac."
The other responds with, "Mangaree! Tung goo farga bin leek dif fragin biss!"
The first replies, "Muchugah! Gran dif leekin grub mack doofing slab toke mine. Zubungho."
The second counters with "Zubungho!?! Zepp tookin fleep mork baff lik munga chok! Issin brat goon brack fline beegun fropsy! Zubungho! Bah! Gocheekbah!!"
The first, astounded, says, "Gocheekbah!?! Hmmm... Gocheekbah!!!"
The both look at me and the look in their eyes is not one of pity, in much the same way that the eyes of a butcher are not pity filled while slaughtering a cow. It was more of a look that said, "How do you want your done? Medium well? Extra rare? With or without mushrooms?"
Scccccrrrrrrraaaaaaattttttccccccchhhhhhh...........
I wake up. I'm still sitting in the office with nothing to do... Damn.
Yeah, that IS a dream.
Willie Wonka wants a panda.
Dressed in tap shoes, like a danda.
Tippity tap, all metal to wood.
Tips his hat, bows like you should.
Greets the children with smiles and flowers.
Tolerates their whining by the hours.
Gimme the candy, the chocolate, the sugar!
Flick a winner, pick a booger.
Choose your friends with wisdom and care,
For someday you'll need them, they may not be there.
"Love many, trust few,
Always paddle your own canoe."
Words to live by for paranoids and cynics
And all those folks who think that their critics
Of the human condition and all that it stands for
But fail in the long run, like they're smacked by Gigantor
So frail, so fragile the ego of men
Who fail to learn anything again and again
And like those small children pestering Wonka
All they think they need is a toy (not a Tonka)
More stuff! More things! Give me overabundance.
Back off, Mr. Big Britches, you have a preponderance
Of cash and of capital, but you're lacking in substance,
Grow a soul, grow a conscience, enjoy your rich circumstance.
Ok, too shallow, too deep, don't make a peep...
hush, hush, hush... huzzah...
TOO MUCH COFFEE MAN IS MY HERO!!!!!!
(Sick thing is, I don't drink coffee...)
Ok, enough insanity for today.
If anyone reads this, please, feel free to flame the bageebers outta me. It shows you care...
I ask him, "What's your beef, McDude?"
He says, "You hid my favorite sweater and now my sneakers are making funny noises, you little -"
Hold up, wait a minute, Mr. Rogers would NEVER say something like that...
Rewind...
So there I was, standing before the Wizard of Oz, squinting because all the green is giving me a bitchkitty of a headache. He opens his mouth to say something profound and this fly flies right out of his enormous head.
"Dude," I say, as calmly as my jade-blinded mind can cope with, "There was a fly in your noggin'!"
"Of course!" he shrieks, sounding more like the Wicked Witch of the West than Oz, the great and terrible. "How else do you keep ideas buzzing in your head?"
WHAT?!?!?
Rewind...
So I'm on the shores of an unknown lake in the middle of nowhere, tied to a pole, being hefted by two pot-bellied tribesmen with stew on the minds and blades on their belts. It does not look so good for our hero. Must be something I said, because I THOUGHT I'd said "I'd like to meet your leader." Probably said something like "Noodles grope your daughter." Dang foreign languages...
One of the tribes men says "Ungah ge karow mit grobe tun dic warbal tac."
The other responds with, "Mangaree! Tung goo farga bin leek dif fragin biss!"
The first replies, "Muchugah! Gran dif leekin grub mack doofing slab toke mine. Zubungho."
The second counters with "Zubungho!?! Zepp tookin fleep mork baff lik munga chok! Issin brat goon brack fline beegun fropsy! Zubungho! Bah! Gocheekbah!!"
The first, astounded, says, "Gocheekbah!?! Hmmm... Gocheekbah!!!"
The both look at me and the look in their eyes is not one of pity, in much the same way that the eyes of a butcher are not pity filled while slaughtering a cow. It was more of a look that said, "How do you want your done? Medium well? Extra rare? With or without mushrooms?"
Scccccrrrrrrraaaaaaattttttccccccchhhhhhh...........
I wake up. I'm still sitting in the office with nothing to do... Damn.
Yeah, that IS a dream.
Willie Wonka wants a panda.
Dressed in tap shoes, like a danda.
Tippity tap, all metal to wood.
Tips his hat, bows like you should.
Greets the children with smiles and flowers.
Tolerates their whining by the hours.
Gimme the candy, the chocolate, the sugar!
Flick a winner, pick a booger.
Choose your friends with wisdom and care,
For someday you'll need them, they may not be there.
"Love many, trust few,
Always paddle your own canoe."
Words to live by for paranoids and cynics
And all those folks who think that their critics
Of the human condition and all that it stands for
But fail in the long run, like they're smacked by Gigantor
So frail, so fragile the ego of men
Who fail to learn anything again and again
And like those small children pestering Wonka
All they think they need is a toy (not a Tonka)
More stuff! More things! Give me overabundance.
Back off, Mr. Big Britches, you have a preponderance
Of cash and of capital, but you're lacking in substance,
Grow a soul, grow a conscience, enjoy your rich circumstance.
Ok, too shallow, too deep, don't make a peep...
hush, hush, hush... huzzah...
TOO MUCH COFFEE MAN IS MY HERO!!!!!!
(Sick thing is, I don't drink coffee...)
Ok, enough insanity for today.
If anyone reads this, please, feel free to flame the bageebers outta me. It shows you care...
Friday, May 12, 2006
Yes, But can he carry a tune in a bucket?
As stated in an earlier post, I'm a music nut. Fanatic. Lunatic. What have you. I love music. I think it's one of the purer expressions of your soul. What you listen to can be very telling about your personality, or how you're feeling at that moment.
For example, right now I'm listening to a musical shuffle and what's currently up is Eric Johnson's Cliffs of Dover. This is a pop/rock instrumental by one of the great guitar slingers of our day. It's a very upbeat tune, with a good driving rhythm and just makes me feel good listening to it. Another tune that does this for me is Joe Satriani's Summer Song. Same deal: upbeat tune performed by an incredible musician. I highly suggest both songs to anyone who likes rock guitar.
Ok, the song is now done and next up is Carribean Blue by Enya. Those who know me are going "Oh, yeah. That sounds like something you'd do." Others are going "Say what?!? Rock guitar to celtic new age? What's wrong with you?!?!"
The answer: absolutely nothing.
So, I've come up with some sort of music quiz and posted it below.
Feedback, my musical friends, feedback. (It's called "feedback" because it feeds a need....)
May your day be musical.
MUSIC IS WHAT MOVES ME QUIZ
1) When I wake up in the morning, I’d like to hear:
a) Good Day Sunshine by the Beatles
b) Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne
c) I Wish It Would Rain Down by Phil Collins
d) Live Like You Were Dying by Tim McGraw
e) Bad Day by Daniel Powter
f) Ugh… me no need music… me need coffee…
2) When I’m traveling to work, I want to hear:
a) something upbeat, like Pump It by the Black Eyed Peas
b) something rocking, like Once by Pearl Jam
c) something calming, like Caribbean Blue by Enya
d) something pop-y, like Rich Girl by Gwen Stefani
e) talk radio, like Howard Stern or Rush Limbaugh
f) who has time for mus- HEY! WATCH WHERE YOU’RE DRIVING, JERK!
3) While I’m at work, I listen to:
a) Top 40 / Hip Hop / R&B
b) Classic Rock / Classic Pop
(NOTE: If your station’s tag line has the words “Greatest Hits of” in it, this is you)
c) Country
d) Heavy Metal / Alternative Rock
e) Smooth Jazz / Classical
f) The boss will fire anyone caught with a radio… jerk…
4) When I’m relaxing, I’d listen to:
a) the hip sound of Shakira (haha, I make joke)
b) the country twang of Rascal Flats
c) the crunchy thrash of Megadeth
d) the urbane wit of Sting
e) the intense chords of Stravinski
f) zzzz…..
5) Bobby McFerrin’s song Don’t Worry, Be Happy
a) is a good song. I like it!
b) is a great song. I want it played continuously!
c) is a stupid song. Who thought putting that on the air was cool?
d) is the most annoying song on the planet. Why did you stick it back in my head?!?
e) Bobby who?
f) DON’T TELL ME NOT TO WORRY!
6) Led Zepplin’s Stairway to Heaven
a) is sacred. Don’t go there.
b) is evil! Have you ever listened to it backwards?
c) is classic. Has anyone remade it yet? (Actually, yes…)
d) is not on my list of required listening
e) What’s a lead zeppelin?
f) Why, oh why, does EVERY rock station devote hours and hours to Led Zepplin?!?!?
7) If you could meet and talk to any musician, who would it be (by genre) and why:
a) Pop
b) Rock
c) Jazz
d) Country
e) other genre (hip-hop, classical, electronica, Indian chanting, whatever)
f) don’t try to psychologize my sh- (ok, ODB, you can lie back in your grave…)
8) If forced into a karaoke situation, what song would you want to sing?
9) What song would you like to see redone (covered), by what band and why?
10) What song are you listening to (or wish you were listening to) RIGHT NOW?
There’s no scientific scoring to any of this. Just an attempt to get us to look at what we listen to and our motivations behind it. ENJOY!
For example, right now I'm listening to a musical shuffle and what's currently up is Eric Johnson's Cliffs of Dover. This is a pop/rock instrumental by one of the great guitar slingers of our day. It's a very upbeat tune, with a good driving rhythm and just makes me feel good listening to it. Another tune that does this for me is Joe Satriani's Summer Song. Same deal: upbeat tune performed by an incredible musician. I highly suggest both songs to anyone who likes rock guitar.
Ok, the song is now done and next up is Carribean Blue by Enya. Those who know me are going "Oh, yeah. That sounds like something you'd do." Others are going "Say what?!? Rock guitar to celtic new age? What's wrong with you?!?!"
The answer: absolutely nothing.
So, I've come up with some sort of music quiz and posted it below.
Feedback, my musical friends, feedback. (It's called "feedback" because it feeds a need....)
May your day be musical.
MUSIC IS WHAT MOVES ME QUIZ
1) When I wake up in the morning, I’d like to hear:
a) Good Day Sunshine by the Beatles
b) Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne
c) I Wish It Would Rain Down by Phil Collins
d) Live Like You Were Dying by Tim McGraw
e) Bad Day by Daniel Powter
f) Ugh… me no need music… me need coffee…
2) When I’m traveling to work, I want to hear:
a) something upbeat, like Pump It by the Black Eyed Peas
b) something rocking, like Once by Pearl Jam
c) something calming, like Caribbean Blue by Enya
d) something pop-y, like Rich Girl by Gwen Stefani
e) talk radio, like Howard Stern or Rush Limbaugh
f) who has time for mus- HEY! WATCH WHERE YOU’RE DRIVING, JERK!
3) While I’m at work, I listen to:
a) Top 40 / Hip Hop / R&B
b) Classic Rock / Classic Pop
(NOTE: If your station’s tag line has the words “Greatest Hits of” in it, this is you)
c) Country
d) Heavy Metal / Alternative Rock
e) Smooth Jazz / Classical
f) The boss will fire anyone caught with a radio… jerk…
4) When I’m relaxing, I’d listen to:
a) the hip sound of Shakira (haha, I make joke)
b) the country twang of Rascal Flats
c) the crunchy thrash of Megadeth
d) the urbane wit of Sting
e) the intense chords of Stravinski
f) zzzz…..
5) Bobby McFerrin’s song Don’t Worry, Be Happy
a) is a good song. I like it!
b) is a great song. I want it played continuously!
c) is a stupid song. Who thought putting that on the air was cool?
d) is the most annoying song on the planet. Why did you stick it back in my head?!?
e) Bobby who?
f) DON’T TELL ME NOT TO WORRY!
6) Led Zepplin’s Stairway to Heaven
a) is sacred. Don’t go there.
b) is evil! Have you ever listened to it backwards?
c) is classic. Has anyone remade it yet? (Actually, yes…)
d) is not on my list of required listening
e) What’s a lead zeppelin?
f) Why, oh why, does EVERY rock station devote hours and hours to Led Zepplin?!?!?
7) If you could meet and talk to any musician, who would it be (by genre) and why:
a) Pop
b) Rock
c) Jazz
d) Country
e) other genre (hip-hop, classical, electronica, Indian chanting, whatever)
f) don’t try to psychologize my sh- (ok, ODB, you can lie back in your grave…)
8) If forced into a karaoke situation, what song would you want to sing?
9) What song would you like to see redone (covered), by what band and why?
10) What song are you listening to (or wish you were listening to) RIGHT NOW?
There’s no scientific scoring to any of this. Just an attempt to get us to look at what we listen to and our motivations behind it. ENJOY!
Thursday, May 04, 2006
When the Mental Jukebox Hiccoughs
Ok, for those of you who don't know me, I'm a music nut. I mean NUT, with a capital cashew. All kinds of music: pop, rock, jazz, classical, country, you name it, I'll probably listen to it (too much).
A good friend of mine, who's a bigger music addict than I am, made me some tapes after I graduated from college. The idea he used was the Velcro Principle: put some stuff together, and if it doesn't work, rip it off and try again. I love the idea and started playing with it myself.
Fast forward...
About a year and a half ago I made a couple discs for some guys I worked with. They worked in a warehouse with little to no excitement or anything to keep their minds off of the utter boredom of the job and/or the utter terror of possibly being fired at any moment for any reason (I've worked psycho jobs like this, it is for real). They had listened to every radio station in town (including the boring talk stuff). They had listened to all of their discs (at least twice, and more like three times). I made them a couple discs, but with a very specific idea in mind: put music that has no business being put together... together.
So, with this concept in mind, I give you some ACTUAL examples:
Lucia di Lammermoor / the Diva Dance by the Diva Pavalaguna (from The Fifth Element) to Tijuana Taxi by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass (say what?!)
John Williams' Olympic Fanfare and Theme to Play That Funky Music by Wild Cherry (are you mad?!?!)
So... am I just nuts, or does any of this make some sort of ridiculous sense?
I'm of course on the side of "sense" and, at least in this suppressed radio market, I've got a radio station working on a limited version of the concept. If you wanna check it out, here you go:
http://www.charliefm.com/
What what greases your gears musically? Let me know, I need more experimentation. Rachmaninoff to Alice Cooper? Huey Lewis to Charlie Daniels? Cake to Crystal Method?
Try odd combos. Skip the needle once or twice. Blend across genres and expand your horizons.
Flame at will!
This was posted on another blog site, and I want to share some of the examples that people there shared with me, just for your extended amusement:
Okay, try going from Queen to Patsy Cline. How about Metallica "One" to Debussy's "Clair de Lune." Psychedelic Furs to Enya? Michael W. Smith to Black Sabbath?
Imagine listening to a disc, you've got Michael W. Smith's Agnus Dei going on. It fades out into Black Sabbath's Iron Man or (shiver) Mr. Crowley. I think at that point I might consider burning my Discman....
...how about Reproduction (from Grease 2), and 1812 Overture (Tchaikovsky), then maybe Fish Heads (Barnes & Barnes), Airegin (Maynard Ferguson), A Mighty Fortress (an old hymn), Skraggy's Tomb (Savatage), and then Mr. Frump In The Iron Lung (Weird Al Yankovic).
I get to the point of following a nice relaxing Mozart concerto with an unhealthy dose of Quiet Riot's Bang your head. Nothing to strange in that (is there?).
Somebody at work mentioned something about Frank Zappa to the Statler Brothers. That could be interesting.
A good friend of mine, who's a bigger music addict than I am, made me some tapes after I graduated from college. The idea he used was the Velcro Principle: put some stuff together, and if it doesn't work, rip it off and try again. I love the idea and started playing with it myself.
Fast forward...
About a year and a half ago I made a couple discs for some guys I worked with. They worked in a warehouse with little to no excitement or anything to keep their minds off of the utter boredom of the job and/or the utter terror of possibly being fired at any moment for any reason (I've worked psycho jobs like this, it is for real). They had listened to every radio station in town (including the boring talk stuff). They had listened to all of their discs (at least twice, and more like three times). I made them a couple discs, but with a very specific idea in mind: put music that has no business being put together... together.
So, with this concept in mind, I give you some ACTUAL examples:
Lucia di Lammermoor / the Diva Dance by the Diva Pavalaguna (from The Fifth Element) to Tijuana Taxi by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass (say what?!)
John Williams' Olympic Fanfare and Theme to Play That Funky Music by Wild Cherry (are you mad?!?!)
So... am I just nuts, or does any of this make some sort of ridiculous sense?
I'm of course on the side of "sense" and, at least in this suppressed radio market, I've got a radio station working on a limited version of the concept. If you wanna check it out, here you go:
http://www.charliefm.com/
What what greases your gears musically? Let me know, I need more experimentation. Rachmaninoff to Alice Cooper? Huey Lewis to Charlie Daniels? Cake to Crystal Method?
Try odd combos. Skip the needle once or twice. Blend across genres and expand your horizons.
Flame at will!
This was posted on another blog site, and I want to share some of the examples that people there shared with me, just for your extended amusement:
Okay, try going from Queen to Patsy Cline. How about Metallica "One" to Debussy's "Clair de Lune." Psychedelic Furs to Enya? Michael W. Smith to Black Sabbath?
Imagine listening to a disc, you've got Michael W. Smith's Agnus Dei going on. It fades out into Black Sabbath's Iron Man or (shiver) Mr. Crowley. I think at that point I might consider burning my Discman....
...how about Reproduction (from Grease 2), and 1812 Overture (Tchaikovsky), then maybe Fish Heads (Barnes & Barnes), Airegin (Maynard Ferguson), A Mighty Fortress (an old hymn), Skraggy's Tomb (Savatage), and then Mr. Frump In The Iron Lung (Weird Al Yankovic).
I get to the point of following a nice relaxing Mozart concerto with an unhealthy dose of Quiet Riot's Bang your head. Nothing to strange in that (is there?).
Somebody at work mentioned something about Frank Zappa to the Statler Brothers. That could be interesting.
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