Bad News
WOXY is going off the air Sept. 15. Apparently you can't make enough money as an Internet-only radio station. Even as a very very good one.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Dylan Again
Just took a quick look at the review of Dylan's new album in Slate:
Modern Times is a better album than Time Out of Mind and even than the majestic Love and Theft, which by my lights makes it Dylan's finest since Blood on the Tracks (1975).Wow.
Thought for the Day
From today's Writer's Almanac:
It's the birthday of journalist John Gunther, born in Chicago, Illinois (1901). He said, "[The United States] is the only country deliberately founded on a good idea."I wonder what it was.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Catching Up
Been out a few days. Was in STL over the weekend.
Saw the Cardinals Sunday. They still stink, generally, but they beat the Cubs with a walk-off grand slam. I'd never seen one of those before. So, hey.
They went 4-0 with me in the ballpark this year. I think I should have season tickets.
Other miscellaneous things:
If you're interested in hearing some interesting people talk, you can hardly do better than the TED conference. Here are this year's presentations.
Last week at the library, we got the best kids' picture book I've read in a while: David Macauley's "Shortcut." He also wrote one called "Black and White" which must be one of the most innovative kids' books ever. It's a trip. "Shortcut" is kind of a simpler riff on the same idea as "Black and White."
Saw the Cardinals Sunday. They still stink, generally, but they beat the Cubs with a walk-off grand slam. I'd never seen one of those before. So, hey.
They went 4-0 with me in the ballpark this year. I think I should have season tickets.
Other miscellaneous things:
If you're interested in hearing some interesting people talk, you can hardly do better than the TED conference. Here are this year's presentations.
Last week at the library, we got the best kids' picture book I've read in a while: David Macauley's "Shortcut." He also wrote one called "Black and White" which must be one of the most innovative kids' books ever. It's a trip. "Shortcut" is kind of a simpler riff on the same idea as "Black and White."
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Happy Birthday, R2D2
Today is the birthday of Kenny Baker, who stuffed himself into a tin can to play R2D2 in the original Star Wars movies. He's 72.
Which means we are all getting old.
Which means we are all getting old.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
2010 Mindset List
The new "mindset list" is out. This is the list that tries to reflect the frame of reference for this year's college freshman. This year's highlights, IMHO:
* The Soviet Union has never existed...I remember when I was in high school, some teacher told us that we shouldn't take drugs like Paul McCartney. I had heard Paul McCartney's stuff - mostly the solo stuff with Wings - but I don't think the guy realized that the Beatles broke up the year I was born.
* They have known only two presidents.
* Bar codes have always been on everything, from library cards and snail mail to retail items.
* Public school officials have always had the right to censor school newspapers.
* The U.S. has always been studying global warming to confirm its existence.
* Richard M. Daley has always been the Mayor of Chicago.
* Non-denominational mega-churches have always been the fastest growing religious organizations in the U.S.
And my personal favorite:
* They have never had to distinguish between the St. Louis Cardinals baseball and football teams.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
They're Watching
I promise I will very rarely comment on anything political on this blog, because - well - you know the old saying about not discussing religion and politics. Whenever I've done it, it has gotten me into trouble. Or at least made me feel dirty. So I don't like to do it much. But I had a thought today about the state of the world that seemed relatively revealing to me. See if this makes sense.
I think we can probably all agree that the defining issue of our times is terrorism. Yet we have a couple of very different views on what to do about it.
From George W and Cheney we get the "take the fight to the enemy" approach. And of course, they're in charge so that's what we've been doing. From others whom we can safely say are "to the left" of W and Cheney, we hear that this approach is madness and counterproductive.
Today I came to a realization that both sides are essentially saying the same thing: "They're watching."
If you listen to Cheney especially, he's always saying that we have to keep our resolve, we can't give in, we have to show them that we will stand up and fight. In this view, the reason that terrorists have attacked us is that they perceive that we are a weak nation that won't defend itself. Cheney's argument is that they got away with attacking our embassies, the USS Cole, etc., and we didn't do much in response. So they have felt that they can attack us again. Or at least they used to. Then we "took the fight to the enemy" and they haven't attacked us since. This is the argument for staying in Iraq, come what may. If we leave, then it will embolden them to attack us again.
In short, "they're watching." And who's "they"? Why, the terrorists of course. This view is justified if you believe that the primary external audience that we are trying to send a message to is terrorists.
"The left" is horrified by this. By invading Iraq, they argue, we have made things worse. There are now more people who have taken up arms against us than there were before. There are people in Europe who were not violent before but now are violent, and it's because we have taken this aggressive stance. We are now getting attacked again and again in Iraq because we invaded their country and have not ensured its security, even three years later. In short, we are making things worse, not better.
And why? Because "they're watching." In this view, "they" is not the terrorists. In this view, the audience that we must influence by our actions is not the terrorists. It is the vast Muslim population. We don't want to make these people any more mad at us than they already are. We don't want to turn the moderates into extremists and the extremists into violent terrorists.
So...they're watching. It just depends on who you think is watching.
I think we can probably all agree that the defining issue of our times is terrorism. Yet we have a couple of very different views on what to do about it.
From George W and Cheney we get the "take the fight to the enemy" approach. And of course, they're in charge so that's what we've been doing. From others whom we can safely say are "to the left" of W and Cheney, we hear that this approach is madness and counterproductive.
Today I came to a realization that both sides are essentially saying the same thing: "They're watching."
If you listen to Cheney especially, he's always saying that we have to keep our resolve, we can't give in, we have to show them that we will stand up and fight. In this view, the reason that terrorists have attacked us is that they perceive that we are a weak nation that won't defend itself. Cheney's argument is that they got away with attacking our embassies, the USS Cole, etc., and we didn't do much in response. So they have felt that they can attack us again. Or at least they used to. Then we "took the fight to the enemy" and they haven't attacked us since. This is the argument for staying in Iraq, come what may. If we leave, then it will embolden them to attack us again.
In short, "they're watching." And who's "they"? Why, the terrorists of course. This view is justified if you believe that the primary external audience that we are trying to send a message to is terrorists.
"The left" is horrified by this. By invading Iraq, they argue, we have made things worse. There are now more people who have taken up arms against us than there were before. There are people in Europe who were not violent before but now are violent, and it's because we have taken this aggressive stance. We are now getting attacked again and again in Iraq because we invaded their country and have not ensured its security, even three years later. In short, we are making things worse, not better.
And why? Because "they're watching." In this view, "they" is not the terrorists. In this view, the audience that we must influence by our actions is not the terrorists. It is the vast Muslim population. We don't want to make these people any more mad at us than they already are. We don't want to turn the moderates into extremists and the extremists into violent terrorists.
So...they're watching. It just depends on who you think is watching.
Finally: A New Dylan Album
Bob Dylan is finally coming out with a new album, Modern Times, slated for release Aug. 29.
It has been almost 5 years since his last album, "Love and Theft," which was brilliant. That one was released on Sept. 11, 2001, of all days.
It has been almost 5 years since his last album, "Love and Theft," which was brilliant. That one was released on Sept. 11, 2001, of all days.
New Member of Our Household
We celebrated a new birth yesterday.
A couple of weeks ago, India brought home a monarch butterfly caterpillar, which she and a friend had found at school. We got to keep it because these caterpillars love milkweed, and we have a lot of that growing on our backyard fence.
We put it in India's bugcatcher, and few days afterwards, it made a chrysalis. Then, yesterday, voila! We had a brand new butterfly. It hung from the top of the bugcatcher a while and dried its wings. When it started flapping around, we released the lid and applauded when it flew away.
So if you see a monarch butterfly, it may have been ours. (They travel widely, y'know.)
A couple of weeks ago, India brought home a monarch butterfly caterpillar, which she and a friend had found at school. We got to keep it because these caterpillars love milkweed, and we have a lot of that growing on our backyard fence.
We put it in India's bugcatcher, and few days afterwards, it made a chrysalis. Then, yesterday, voila! We had a brand new butterfly. It hung from the top of the bugcatcher a while and dried its wings. When it started flapping around, we released the lid and applauded when it flew away.
So if you see a monarch butterfly, it may have been ours. (They travel widely, y'know.)
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Perspective
Today I made a trip to the WGLT Recycled Music Sale with India. When we went, I was in a bad mood.
But at the sale, India was attracted to a cassette single in the "World Music" box. The cassette case had a colorful sleeve which looked like a lot of fun. She asked if we could buy it. I took a look at it, gave it about 3 seconds of thought, realized that "what the hell" was the best response, and bought it. It was only 50 cents. What the hell, indeed.
And I must say that we had a boatload of fun listening to it in the truck on the way home. I think that this was the first time in the 16-year history of the truck that this song has been heard within its doors. It was worth the wait.
You might be asking - what work of sonic genius were we listening to?
Why, naturally..."Macarena."
Which just goes to show that a little perspective goes a long way.
But at the sale, India was attracted to a cassette single in the "World Music" box. The cassette case had a colorful sleeve which looked like a lot of fun. She asked if we could buy it. I took a look at it, gave it about 3 seconds of thought, realized that "what the hell" was the best response, and bought it. It was only 50 cents. What the hell, indeed.
And I must say that we had a boatload of fun listening to it in the truck on the way home. I think that this was the first time in the 16-year history of the truck that this song has been heard within its doors. It was worth the wait.
You might be asking - what work of sonic genius were we listening to?
Why, naturally..."Macarena."
Which just goes to show that a little perspective goes a long way.
A Fine Poem
From today's Writer's Almanac, here is a fine poem.
Those germs, viruses, and parasites are smarter than we give them credit for.
Those germs, viruses, and parasites are smarter than we give them credit for.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Toyota Wants to Give Us Music
Toyota's making this new car, the Yaris, that they want to brand as all-hip-and-whatnot.
As part of their marketing campaign, they've set up a webpage where you can download a dozen songs for free. The best stuff here, IMHO, is:
As part of their marketing campaign, they've set up a webpage where you can download a dozen songs for free. The best stuff here, IMHO, is:
- Midlake, "Roscoe" (Great song)
- Clogs, "Lantern Medley..."
- Brookville, "Golden"
- IOs, "Neveright"
Song Title of the Day
"Dress Sexy at My Funeral" by Smog.
The lyrics are written from the point of view of a guy who wants his wife to, well, dress sexy at his funeral.
Umm...hey, Mari-Rose?
How to Create a Mad Poet
From today's Writer's Almanac:
It's the birthday of Charles Bukowski, (1920). His family moved to Los Angeles when he was two years old. His father was a milkman, and so frustrated with his own life that he became very abusive. He once beat Bukowski with a two-by-four because the son hadn't mowed the lawn correctly.
Reading: The Giver
Yesterday I finished reading The Giver by Lois Lowry. Technically it's a kids' book - the Normal Public Library is having a promotion where adults read kids' books along with their kids. I think you can win prizes or something.
I picked up The Giver, which won a major prize. It's a good quick read. The basic story follows a 12-year-old kid who lives in a futuristic community where people have given up almost all their freedoms in exchange for a world with no pain, hunger, etc.
The kid, of course, has problems in this world.
Just one thing bothers me about it. I don't think that we'll ever see anything like this kind of world. The idea seems to be that eventually humans will give up their aspirations in exchange for a peaceful world with no troubles.
And I don't think that's the way things are working out. If I were to predict the future, based on the way things are going, it would be much more of an every-man-for-himself affair. A world where life is, you know:
Solitary. Poor. Nasty. Brutish. Short.
I think we're far too self-interested to give up our own desires for a common good, especially to the degree that it happens in the book. (Trust me - the people in this community give up just about everything interesting.)
Honestly, I'm not sure which would be worse.
I picked up The Giver, which won a major prize. It's a good quick read. The basic story follows a 12-year-old kid who lives in a futuristic community where people have given up almost all their freedoms in exchange for a world with no pain, hunger, etc.
The kid, of course, has problems in this world.
Just one thing bothers me about it. I don't think that we'll ever see anything like this kind of world. The idea seems to be that eventually humans will give up their aspirations in exchange for a peaceful world with no troubles.
And I don't think that's the way things are working out. If I were to predict the future, based on the way things are going, it would be much more of an every-man-for-himself affair. A world where life is, you know:
Solitary. Poor. Nasty. Brutish. Short.
I think we're far too self-interested to give up our own desires for a common good, especially to the degree that it happens in the book. (Trust me - the people in this community give up just about everything interesting.)
Honestly, I'm not sure which would be worse.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Question for the Day
Here's your moral dilemma for the day.
You have been allowed to murder someone. Anyone you choose. Anywhere you choose. Transportation will be provided. What's more, you will not be punished for this in any way. You will not be arrested or sent to jail. You will be able to go on living your life as normal. You have also been assured that it will not cost you a chance to go to heaven, if you believe in heaven.
Monday, August 14, 2006
In Stores Aug. 15
- Hong Kong Phooey, The Complete Series
- Magilla Gorilla, The Complete Series
Update: D'oh! The Guillemots' album has been released in the UK. It doesn't get a US release date till January.
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Yo La Tengo
Typing late at night, and "Everyday" by Yo La Tengo just showed up on shuffle play. They're the kind of band that obviously made a decision very early on that they would play the kind of music they wanted to play and wouldn't cater to anyone.
For that reason, I find all their songs interesting, even the songs I don't like so well.
Another reason to like them: Their new album is called I am not afraid of you and I will beat your ass.
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