American Silence and the Rebirth of the 60′s
The word Revolution is a bit threatening. A full change. Rotation. Circle. Earth does these things without us even noticing much. Neil Young's new album Living With War signifies his return of the 60's generation to battle the new politics. Well, seems to me, you can't fight new defense with old offense. There's a whole other level to this war on Bush. Religiously, the guy is popular. Despite his doing nothing to promote Pro-Life, he's doing a damn good job getting their vote by just believing in it. Impeach the guy? Since when did we not know what we were getting? Was it the war? The speeches that seem to give no hint that he knows what the hell he is doing? I think it was the war. Well, America, you really did it this time. You elected the bastard. It's like letting in the fat drunk guy from across the street. You invite him in once, he ruins your house, but hell, he's a pretty fun guy, snorting coke and doing bodyshots off of dead hookers. Yeah, c'est la vie.
Well, Neil, I like where you're going, but you gotta understand that cheesy lyrics I've heard time and time again from bad poets at the clubs will not help anything anymore. This is not a generation of people where everyone follows the same group anymore. A Woodstock like event would draw few people, as evidenced with Lollapalooza 04-05. Or the lack thereof. Too simple, too direct, too outdated a strategy. And our generation isn't doing anything? Preposterous. I think the go word this generation is a new birth of satire. That's right. Satire. Remember old Orwell? Swift? Well, it's the new thing to do nowadays. A good example would be the exemplary but crude show, The Boondocks. Starting as a comic…
The Boondocks was a new political machine akin to Bloom County and Opus, by Berkeley Breathed. Now a show, the art takes a new form, as an example from an episode about an X-Box murderer parodies Rumsfeld, Bush, Iraq, and the glorification of villains as heroes. Mr. Young, maybe you should be looking more closely for this generation's rebels. Because they're here, just behind the glass. Unable to be touched.
The (Modern Day) Urban Explorer
Just like the opening of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds makes you feel uncomfortably claustrophobic, urban exploration makes me feel the same way – but even worse. As if humans built things for other humans to feel scared in. This country's so great, ain't it?
The past few days I've been reading up on this guy going underneath the subterranean tunnels beneath York University. I vaguely know him and I know he wouldn't recognize me, but I could seriously picture myself there. It's a wonder how a concept can put crazier images into one's head than adjectives and description. The whole deal started with an elevator that never stopped at a certain floor. After a pretty simple method, they got it to stop at the floor. Then they tried hard to get the elevator door to open. After success, they explored what appeared to be age-old pipes and machinery. What had to have been kids (if it wasn't, this would really creep me out) wrote ambiguous messages warning people to get out. The guy met with a crazy guy who told him to get out. They came back, did more exploring…it was surreal. They found the guy's "living conditions" down there and everything. The epic actually continues to this day, updated quite frequently. The story is on a special site closed to new members, but it's quite a badass tale.
Also, hell, I've had no free time as of now. I've been working on a novella for English class. (The novella as a short novel, not as a 'within one day' story).
Beware the Days Immediately Past the Ides of March
Everyone’s birthday is this week. I don’t know why, but people sure love to have sex in late June. I have a lot of birthdays, some I cannot celebrate as much as I would want, but maybe I can handle myself better next year. Oh’ell. Anyway, I’ve decided to recommend some badass albums that have come out in the past year or so. (At earliest, January 1st of 2005). Although to be honest, I liked 2004 more.
1. Oasis – Don’t Believe the Truth
A comparative to Definitely Maybe and (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? The biggest assholes on the planet pulled it off again, cementing that Blur is only second best. My favorite track off the album? The Importance of Being Idle, easily. It’s catchy tune and vocals are just infectious.
2. The Raveonettes – Pretty in Black
Oh, Lord. I never expected to like the band that did a commercial for like, Gap or Old Navy…with WB cast members. Wow, though. The crazy duo with rattling retro guitars has really innovative sounds pulsating through, with vocals that are dark and brooding. Favorite song on the album? Tough, but Love in a Trashcan, despite the title, is my fave.
3. Beck – Guero
Ah, Guero. Probably my favorite Beck album next to Odelay, this one brings back a more…rugged? Yeah, rugged…tone to his works that I always liked in Odelay. I don’t have a favorite track for this album, as I like it as a whole album, rather than picking and choosing the songs.
4. Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not
I hate this band’s name so much, but I can deal, since they look to revive what bands like Oasis, Blur, and Franz Ferdinand have been trying to get out of their works: eccentric British badassery with a pinch of kickass-ocity. I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor is my favorite for this collection.
5. Foo Fighters – In Your Honour
Disappointing when compared to their first three albums, it’s a step up from the abysmal One by One. But even ranked four out of five from the FF discography still places it worlds above other bands. This album has the soft/hard gimmick seperation of songs. Although I think a lot of songs are filler, a lot are really damn good. Examples include Another Round, End Over End, and In Your Honour. Gotta love it.
Honorable Mentions include The Morning Jacket’s Z, Fiona Apple’s Extraordinary Machine, Kanye West’s Late Registration, The Redwall’s De Nova, and Franz Ferdinand’s You Could Have it So Much Better.
Oh, What a Life it Would Be….
Cool, crisp ocean air, with a tinge of sandy roughness against a beard I forgot to shave. A dirty Hawaiian shirt on with shorts watching the waves rip apart outside on the balcony of my diner. This is a blatant plagiarism of my father’s retirement dream of owning a bar on the coast. I’m not much into alcohol. I’d also have the girl of my dreams with me, and nothing’d stop me from getting the local crew together to make a film. Maybe I’d be rich, but I’d never keep any more than necessary. To charities it would go, I suppose, or maybe into a movie. Who knows? All I know is that that’s going to be me watching the ocean, wondering when it will end.
Isn’t dreaming nice?
And for the record,
Top 5 Most Wanted Careers
1. Filmmaker/Screenwriter- Speaks for itself I guess. It’s always been my dream.
2. Record Producer- To have control over music and find talent would be the coolest gift to have. I’d be a God of talent and the new pop culture at every birth of every baby blossom.
3. Astronomer- I think the lyrics of Oasis’ The Importance of Being Idle “I don’t mind, as long as there’s a bed beneath the stars that shine,” apply here.
4. Restaurant Owner/Chef – I’m automatically out of this career path because while I love cooking, I am not at all patient, not at all health-conscious, and I have an incredible sensitivity to heat and cold. Still, I’ll probably do it. A few burns and scars can’t kill me.
5. Novelist- I’m a writer first, everything else second. Although I love screenwriting so much more, novels have always been my inspiration for everything. This top five list I always do (real life too) is directly inspired by Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity.
I’m that guy.
I get blown over by a lot of people, taken advantage of, insulted, put down, and criticized for anything I do, but it’s all worth it when one person tells me I helped them. In some way. Somehow. I’m that guy. I do things with the best intent, and it always surprises me that after being bludgeoned to death verbally, four years later, I get a thank you.
Back when I was in middle school, I had it pretty good by comparison. One of my friends (a crush at the time) was shallow, one was insane and ended up killing his mother, another disliked me but still talked to me, another was a girl that I was too shallow to accept her flirtation…all of them seem to be stereotypes, but they were all special. I’m just wondering if what I did affected anybody. The most impactful, of course, being the kid who ended up being on trial for matricide. Had I stayed at that school, I could have prevented that. I could have done something. I know I could. Instead, our relationship grew very hostile climaxing to a bitter end wherein he just became another kid I parted myself with.
I got a call awhile back. It was the girl who liked me back then. We got through the small talk of the day and then she did something I never expected. She thanked me. She said that despite her not acting like it, she wanted my opinions, my thoughts, my demeanor. She valued them.
Yesterday, I talked to a guy who left my school this year. We talked about his future and his present situation. He left saying he also valued my opinions despite not doing it while he knew me.
I think we all faced this at one point. Remember the teacher whom your parents told you that even though they may seem strict, overbearing, and unfair, you would look back on and appreciate? I’m that guy.
Isn’t it ironic?
God threw me a fastball today. I spent the last three days getting shit for English, like…supplies…for our research project. I had to walk to the local tyrannical non-Walmart superstore and buy all this stuff. The day before it’s due, things change, and I screwed up the index cards…so I walk back again. Bring it back. The day it’s due, I have everything. I’m totally cool. Then English comes and she checks it. I realize I didn’t get a permission slip signed. Why I need to get a permission slip signed to do a report is beyond me, but I needed it. One point off major grade. Not too bad. And just to add insult to injury, I forgot some packet in my locker I needed for the class. I could’ve literally stretched my body around the room door to open my locker and get it, but I was too lazy.
Besides English, pretty ok day. We “watched” Ice Age in Spanish…in spanish. Substitute. No one watched much of it, but it was nice to get around an hour and a half of doing nothing since the period before, I also had a sub for anatomy. By the way, if something happens to our anatomy teacher, like she gets fired, I swear I’ll start a walkout. Unless she quit. Then I may still do a walkout if I find something specific to walkout against, such as the recent “maybe” cancellation of the Spanish fair. This school is white enough.
Lastly, Gulliver’s Travel’s ain’t that bad. The ending was a bit disappointing, and I thought it was on par with other such historical seafaring epics as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Mutiny on the Bounty. Despite the non-fictitious nature of the latter, I believe that as a whole, Gulliver’s Travels was the most realistic fantasy I’ve ever witnessed. It’s a bit disconcerting when you see how Jonathan Swift saw advanced civilization back then and how it is now. It’s almost eerie to think that our advancements will be nothing like what we think it might be like.
Therefore…
Top 5 Advancements You Never Saw Coming
1. Infinite Cheap Diamond
The fact is, folks, fake diamonds will become identical to real ones, making certain manufacturing cheaper and more effective, as well as pleasing your girlfriend a lot cheaper with less soreness on the neck.
2. Sleep Deprivation Helpers
Everyone knows Americans, as well as half the civilized world don’t know how to get more than 7 hours of sleep. I’m sure someone will do something about that. Maybe a recharge for the body?
3. Incredible Astronomical Physics Explained
Who doesn’t love astronomical physics? I know I do. I’d like to know the mysteries of the universe and I think some douchebag who doesn’t desire it will get it. It always happens that way.
4. Cancer is cured. Artifical Stem cells. Other crap.
You know it’ll happen. We’re waiting on time. This one should probably be expected. How it got onto this list is an enigma.
5. Green Day, Oasis, Weezer, and the Foo Fighters Will Stop Sucking.
As opposed to the others, this one may take awhile. (Edit: Post 2002 GD, Oasis, Weez, and FF! I loves me my pre 2002 alty rock.)
Black Hole Submerged
Sunday brings in the good luck. Although it’s the worst day of the week right near Monday and Wednesday.
The last sixty years is the most interesting era of all time. I think it should be written that it’s the second rennaisance, as the amount of artistic prowess skyrocketed. Film, writing, and art increased tenfold. The reason people do not regard it as such is because of the ratio of horrible crap produced over genius is overwhelming. I’m also sure that back in Da Vinci and Leonardo’s time, there was some poser Dutch kid trying to create crappy art that was conveniently banished before reaching the eyes of today’s artistic critics. Today, film is a diversifying medium which gives way to the type of diversity seen in paintings and writings, becoming something other than a genre. It’s because of this that I myself want to get into the film industry. The fact is, I’ve known more movies making me cry or spur provocative thinking than literature. Although I regard High Fidelity, Charlotte’s Web, Candide, The Things They Carried, and Totally Disgusting(It’s a badass children’s book) as major pushers of my inspiration, I could name many more movies which have affected me as much if not more than these works. I guess it’s the naturality of things. Also, it’s probably the fact I believe I’m a bit more idealistic and accepting of other ways of life.
I think grasping new advancements is hard for everyone though, because tradition is still abound incredibly. A paradox arised a few weeks ago when I asked my parents which version of Hurt they liked. The older, original by the relatively new Nine Inch Nails, or the newer version by the musical veteran, Johnny Cash. They couldn’t answer because they had always told me the original is always better than any cover and cited such examples as Ticket to Ride by The Carpenters/The Beatles and Landslide by The Dixie Chicks/Fleetwood Mac. My parents finally agreed to Cash’s version because they didn’t like NIN’s version all that much. I couldn’t blame them; it’s really a love or hate song. Kudos to Cash for stumping my parents though.
Anyway, I feel I’ve tired myself out. I must finish Gulliver’s Travels. I have about 15 pages left.
