All jokes aside about wanting to turn a generation of college students into a horde of my own personal minions (uh, yeah, joking ... it was all just a joke), in an unrelated conversation yesterday I realized for the first time what my goal in teaching college students has always been: not (merely) to impose my politics (moderate, dressing left) on my students, nor to plant the seeds of my appreciation for great and/or Irish literature in them, nor to plant seeds of any kind(!) in them for that matter--but instead to supplant their superegos. (An unrelated goal in grad school was to see who could slip the longest sentence by our dissertation committees without getting slapped. The sentence above wouldn't even have been in contention at 96 words ... 150 would be more like it.)
In fact, my first name, according to some dictionary of first name meanings somewhere, means "supplanter" in Hebrew. Coincidence? (And how about that for a crappy name origin? Why not just name me Brown-headed Cowbird, for heck's sake? Oh well, everybody's name is his or her burden, and I guess there are worse names.
So I was briefly pleased several years ago when students all over campus started wearing "WWJD" bracelets and whatnot, and then disappointed to discover that the J was for Jesus. WTFWJD?
July 11, 2008
July 09, 2008
Sloth again
After a June of gluttony and dissipation, I have decided to try to get healthier. Gotta tellya: I f--ing HATE to exercise.
When I had a gym membership it was worse. I thought that when I was paying for it, my inherent cheapness would actually encourage me to go to the gym. Instead I just felt stupid about not going. And I don't generally seek out the company of sweaty people; nor do I enjoy long political discussions in the locker room with conservative old guys who seem to delight in the open air.
I don't mind exercise, exactly, but I hate "exercising." Look, I don't mind physical labor. I actually like it. Especially when there's a point to it. I also love to walk, if I'm walking to somewhere or away from somewhere. But walking in a circle or worse, back and forth in a line, I hate, unless there's going to be cake somewhere along the trip.
If exercise were purely about vanity, I wouldn't even think twice about it ... my appearance is not something I care to be seen worrying about (now that's real vanity, folks). But at this point, it's clearly about avoiding death and living long enough to recoup some of what I've paid into my retirement. Still, I'd rather be making something or doing something that has a product at the end of it: "Look, I built this shed," not "Look at me ... I'm marginally less flabby than I was before."
But I want to live forever, and healthily. So I've been running on a treadmill, which is even worse than running in a circle, obviously. And Bowflexing, if you can believe that, for more than the 20 minutes a day, 3 days a week they talk about on the infomercial.
I must be overdoing it because I don't look anything like that guy. Maybe I should back off a little!
In conclusion, I have experienced a high or two in my life, I have to admit, but it's never been a "runner's high." I think the runner's high is a lie perpetuated by fanatics, to be honest with you. Or maybe the high is actually just the smugness of being so fit and lean?
Either way, I figure I waste time one way or another every day, so I might as well waste some of it running in place on a literal treadmill for once, rather than the metaphorical one I've been trotting on for so long!
When I had a gym membership it was worse. I thought that when I was paying for it, my inherent cheapness would actually encourage me to go to the gym. Instead I just felt stupid about not going. And I don't generally seek out the company of sweaty people; nor do I enjoy long political discussions in the locker room with conservative old guys who seem to delight in the open air.
I don't mind exercise, exactly, but I hate "exercising." Look, I don't mind physical labor. I actually like it. Especially when there's a point to it. I also love to walk, if I'm walking to somewhere or away from somewhere. But walking in a circle or worse, back and forth in a line, I hate, unless there's going to be cake somewhere along the trip.
If exercise were purely about vanity, I wouldn't even think twice about it ... my appearance is not something I care to be seen worrying about (now that's real vanity, folks). But at this point, it's clearly about avoiding death and living long enough to recoup some of what I've paid into my retirement. Still, I'd rather be making something or doing something that has a product at the end of it: "Look, I built this shed," not "Look at me ... I'm marginally less flabby than I was before."
But I want to live forever, and healthily. So I've been running on a treadmill, which is even worse than running in a circle, obviously. And Bowflexing, if you can believe that, for more than the 20 minutes a day, 3 days a week they talk about on the infomercial.
I must be overdoing it because I don't look anything like that guy. Maybe I should back off a little!
In conclusion, I have experienced a high or two in my life, I have to admit, but it's never been a "runner's high." I think the runner's high is a lie perpetuated by fanatics, to be honest with you. Or maybe the high is actually just the smugness of being so fit and lean?
Either way, I figure I waste time one way or another every day, so I might as well waste some of it running in place on a literal treadmill for once, rather than the metaphorical one I've been trotting on for so long!
July 06, 2008
Dr. Frankenstein meets the Tivo
So yesterday the Tivo died. It just started rebooting every couple of minutes. When I tried to reformat it, it froze altogether. This will not stand, I said to myself.
Needless to say, it's way out of warranty ... a Series 2 without even the capability of recording two shows at once. Stone Age Tivo of the Tivozoic era. But dammit, three years isn't that much to ask from a piece of equipment, it seems to me.
So I did a little snooping around and wound up here. I bought their software for $20 and a new HD for I guess $79 or so. I could have had it for less if I hadn't been in such a hurry. After monkeying around for a little while using their software to format the new HD in my computer, I transplanted it and fired it up.
Lo and behold, the Tivo went from 80 gigs to 320 ... and more importantly, it went from boat anchor to best friend ... all in the space of a couple of hours. It LIIIVES!
Needless to say, it's way out of warranty ... a Series 2 without even the capability of recording two shows at once. Stone Age Tivo of the Tivozoic era. But dammit, three years isn't that much to ask from a piece of equipment, it seems to me.
So I did a little snooping around and wound up here. I bought their software for $20 and a new HD for I guess $79 or so. I could have had it for less if I hadn't been in such a hurry. After monkeying around for a little while using their software to format the new HD in my computer, I transplanted it and fired it up.
Lo and behold, the Tivo went from 80 gigs to 320 ... and more importantly, it went from boat anchor to best friend ... all in the space of a couple of hours. It LIIIVES!
July 05, 2008
Creation vs. Consumption
Today I created, minimally and within narrowly proscribed bounds: I made a couple pens on my lathe. One of them came out brilliantly ... but after all's said and done, it's just a pen. Maybe somebody rich will use it to sign a check to me someday. Possible, but not likely.
This, incidentally, is why I don't much like watching tennis (or bowling): the range of possible things that might happen is frankly very narrow. This is why I've proposed innovations in these sports:
For tennis: the "clown set." For bowling: the "clown frame." Sadly, the linked pages have nothing to do with my innovative suggestions, which basically involve the insinuation of clowns into play at random times throughout these matches. Just to provide the possibility of something interesting happening.
I'm basking right now in that use of the word "insinuation," and indeed in the phrase "the insinuation of clowns." That's got some serious title potential, but I don't know if the Elmers would go for it ... after "Porn Mime," there might be some concern about being typecast or something.
Anyhow, I was talking about creation. The pens. Okay, I'm back. The consumption was of movies. I was going to talk about them, but here I am near the bottom of my post. So, briefly:
Dead Ringers: interesting but ultimately overrated. Bonus points for conjoined twin content.
Dead Creatures: Very interesting movie. This movie will stick with me for a few days probably. Not everyone's cup of tea, but if you're looking for a thoughtful English indie zombie flick that isn't funny or particularly terrifying, this might be it.
Hancock: I don't know what I was expecting, exactly, so I don't know whether this film disappointed me or not. Smith, Theron, and Bateman were all good, as one might expect. But I don't think that the film was as funny as it wanted to be or as touching and dramatic as it wanted to be. I'm also not sure there was a scene in the film that was as good as or better than those in the trailers (no, it's not surprising that the best scenes are in the trailers--after all, they're trying to sell the movie. But save something for the movie!).
Scanners: Can't believe I never saw this essential Patrick McGoohan-Michael Ironside vehicle. Interesting sibling stuff here, not terribly different from what's going on in Dead Ringers.
Oh, and yesterday I watched Grindhouse, which I would have liked if it hadn't been so damned precious and clever. Lots of interesting sibling stuff here as well, especially in the first film, which featured among other siblings the Crazy Babysitter Twins. And that's all I'm going to say about that.
This, incidentally, is why I don't much like watching tennis (or bowling): the range of possible things that might happen is frankly very narrow. This is why I've proposed innovations in these sports:
For tennis: the "clown set." For bowling: the "clown frame." Sadly, the linked pages have nothing to do with my innovative suggestions, which basically involve the insinuation of clowns into play at random times throughout these matches. Just to provide the possibility of something interesting happening.
I'm basking right now in that use of the word "insinuation," and indeed in the phrase "the insinuation of clowns." That's got some serious title potential, but I don't know if the Elmers would go for it ... after "Porn Mime," there might be some concern about being typecast or something.
Anyhow, I was talking about creation. The pens. Okay, I'm back. The consumption was of movies. I was going to talk about them, but here I am near the bottom of my post. So, briefly:
Dead Ringers: interesting but ultimately overrated. Bonus points for conjoined twin content.
Dead Creatures: Very interesting movie. This movie will stick with me for a few days probably. Not everyone's cup of tea, but if you're looking for a thoughtful English indie zombie flick that isn't funny or particularly terrifying, this might be it.
Hancock: I don't know what I was expecting, exactly, so I don't know whether this film disappointed me or not. Smith, Theron, and Bateman were all good, as one might expect. But I don't think that the film was as funny as it wanted to be or as touching and dramatic as it wanted to be. I'm also not sure there was a scene in the film that was as good as or better than those in the trailers (no, it's not surprising that the best scenes are in the trailers--after all, they're trying to sell the movie. But save something for the movie!).
Scanners: Can't believe I never saw this essential Patrick McGoohan-Michael Ironside vehicle. Interesting sibling stuff here, not terribly different from what's going on in Dead Ringers.
Oh, and yesterday I watched Grindhouse, which I would have liked if it hadn't been so damned precious and clever. Lots of interesting sibling stuff here as well, especially in the first film, which featured among other siblings the Crazy Babysitter Twins. And that's all I'm going to say about that.
July 03, 2008
U.S. Blues
I found out about R. L. Burnside the wrong way around ... I'd read his name in articles about blues music but never listened to him.
Then I acquired some recordings by the North Mississippi Allstars after hearing a little piece by them on NPR. They did some songs on these recordings that are closely associated with Burnside. I'm dodging questions of authorship: did Burnside write these songs? I don't know. If I wanted to study something, I'd study a spreadsheet or a cookbook. I'm talking about music here.
So then I downloaded two Burnside recordings (more or less Burnside recordings) from a free trial of emusic a while back, and they were ... interesting. Not necessarily representative of his talent, I don't think ... A Ass Pocket of Whiskey was recorded with what one review calls a "punk-bred blues reconstructionist trio called the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion." It's more than listenable, but it's kind of idiosyncratic. A Bothered Mind is a similarly odd collection of collaborations (using the term generously I think), some of which are pretty engaging. Check out "Stole My Check" if you can, but not at work.
Anyhow, you can find him all over Youtube, but start with this one below. The look on his face is great, and I love the guitar at about a minute and half, when he lets it ring out a little.
Then I acquired some recordings by the North Mississippi Allstars after hearing a little piece by them on NPR. They did some songs on these recordings that are closely associated with Burnside. I'm dodging questions of authorship: did Burnside write these songs? I don't know. If I wanted to study something, I'd study a spreadsheet or a cookbook. I'm talking about music here.
So then I downloaded two Burnside recordings (more or less Burnside recordings) from a free trial of emusic a while back, and they were ... interesting. Not necessarily representative of his talent, I don't think ... A Ass Pocket of Whiskey was recorded with what one review calls a "punk-bred blues reconstructionist trio called the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion." It's more than listenable, but it's kind of idiosyncratic. A Bothered Mind is a similarly odd collection of collaborations (using the term generously I think), some of which are pretty engaging. Check out "Stole My Check" if you can, but not at work.
Anyhow, you can find him all over Youtube, but start with this one below. The look on his face is great, and I love the guitar at about a minute and half, when he lets it ring out a little.
July 01, 2008
Britney Spears in a Beret???
I guess if I talk enough about BRITNEY SPEARS, NAKED ambition on my part to attract random Google hits will be realized. Oh, hell ... I don't have the energy to keep this going. But I was giddy as a SCHOOLGIRL to find this cover of her big hit.
Anyhow, if you don't know Richard Thompson, this is probably not the best introduction to his work, which is generally pretty great. But in his hands, it's a good song. Kinda creepy.
Anyhow, if you don't know Richard Thompson, this is probably not the best introduction to his work, which is generally pretty great. But in his hands, it's a good song. Kinda creepy.
What went wrong with me
The first time I saw this, it blew my mind.
I mean, it's a capital "I." It's the human condition. This may be the most profound thirty seconds of music there is. What the HELL were they trying to do to us?
My concept of identity has never been the same.
And do you love the folksy harmony on "busy afternoon"?
I mean, it's a capital "I." It's the human condition. This may be the most profound thirty seconds of music there is. What the HELL were they trying to do to us?
My concept of identity has never been the same.
And do you love the folksy harmony on "busy afternoon"?
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