Sensationalize This

I lost some respect for the New York Times today. The main headline on the New York Times website, NYTimes.com, in the mid-morning read, "Tainted Drugs Tied to Maker of Abortion Pill" (login required?) a story about cancer patients in China becoming paralyzed after taking contaminated drugs. The Times is really going after those shock and awe hits with this title. The headline and the following article is disgusting for a few reasons. First off, linking the always hated "abortion pill" with the harm of cancer patients (a group that will always be a favorite to feel sorry for) is not doing any good for the plight of choice in America. Second, the title implies that the abortion pill is tainted and therefore worth a second glance by the FDA before we let anyone else get hurt. But I think the thing that irks me the most is that the Times needed to mention RU-486 (aka "the abortion pill) at all. The article is about a pill for leukemia and has nothing to do with abortion, the potential harm taking the abortion pill could cause or ANYTHING to do with (or the lack of) sexual reproduction AT ALL. In fact, as the article states, "(RU-486) is made at a factory different from the one that produced the tainted cancer drugs, about an hour’s drive away." Clearly, the Times is just putting a little fear in our hearts and a smile on the faces of those that are anti-abortion.

This ridiculous headline comes right at the heels of an interesting article over at Slate.com bemoaning inane headlines on cable news sites like Foxnews and CNN. As I read the article that quoted headlines like "British Teen Films Herself Trying To Kill Parents" and "Elementary School Principal Charged in Sexual Assault" I was glad that I didn't read any of those website instead opting for more "intellectual" (I am really smart) sites like the New York Times. After the Times headline today I guess no one is safe from the stupidity the internet forces news sites to lower themselves to in order to receive the maximum amount of hits per day. The Slate article compares these sensationalist headlines to tabloids on gossip sites like TMZ and mention that sex and missing/dead babies are the favorite headline topics for cable news. In my mind, this Times article is no different.

Further Reading:
Ann at Feministing adds some interesting points to this discussion that I didn't mention above.
Not sure what RU-486 is? Wiki-it.

this is a tribute

"Tribute videos" have become pretty common since the internet became a hang out for the masses with the inception of youtube and social networking sites like myspace. I'm taken aback by the amount of time a person will spend slaving over their computer's free video-making software in order to create a slide show of pictures of their crushes from american idol or hannah montana backed by the creator's favorite tune. Idolator 2007 intern, Kate, even had a regular column on the Idolator site devoted to especially awesome tribute videos she found on youtube.
So, I get it. Tribute videos are everywhere and any internet-literate person shouldn't raise an eyebrow over any tribute video, no matter how ridiculous, they find. Yet, I still can't get over some of the videos I see. This video in particular, devoted to Dakota Fanning's little sister Elle has a very interesting choice of background song. I'll let you watch for yourselves:

Celeb Party

When I moved to Northampton back in June I was completely oblivious to the number of celebrities I would be coming in contact with. I assumed Northampton was only a little cooler than my home-area of Columbus, Ohio, and then, simply because it resides in new england with easy access to several big cities. As it turned out, outside of the actual small town itself, the Western Massachusetts area is pretty lame. It's annoying that I have to drive sometimes two hours to get to a place that, in Columbus, was a mere 15 minute drive. But, that's where the celebrities come in. I've seen a lot of them. Or at least at lot more than I ever have in my life; in Columbus or otherwise. But not to a visit to Boston or New York, this is all happening in good old Northampton proper (or Amherst for one incident). Because this is a pretty big deal I figure I'd better tell you who I've met just so everyone will finally understand how cool I actually am.

Kim Gordon (aka Sonic Youth god/essentials regular)
Thurston Moore (pitchfork readers poll number 6 underrated album of 2007)
Coco Gordon-Moore (sonic offspring)
J Mascis (dinosaur guitar god)
John Hodgman (total humor god)
Eugene Mirman (total let-himself-go-since-college god)
A.D. Miles (total BFF with my two fav boys (Michael Showalter and Paul Rudd) god)
Eric Mabius (season one L Word jerk and apparent Ugly Betty star)
Kenny Mayne (ESPN/Dancing With the Stars star)


That's a lot of stars, right??? Don't worry, I'll update you whenever I see more.

The End of the Alphabet

Working in retail has introduced new challenges to my life that require creative thinking, sweet-talking and a very fake smile. This past Sunday leant itself to a new challenge for someone fairly new to the full-time retail experience. After somehow losing the book I was currently reading I suddenly found myself ill-prepared for an extremely slow day of work. My 5-hour shift was spent alone in the Amherst shop only welcoming the occasional browser, never buyer. Thankfully essentials offers several books that at least look interesting on the shelf, although the Amherst location is somewhat lacking in that area. One title we sell, The End of the Alphabet, has been on the shelf for the entire time I’ve been working at the store, never catching my (or any of the customer’s) interest. Perhaps it’s the hefty price tag for such a small book that makes everyone shrink away. I must admit, my main problem has been the cover. I can’t get past that front piece of paper. With ever only a glance while stocking, all I could ever see was an Egyptian camel and the word “alphabet” which automatically lead me to believe the book was nothing more than an acrostic for the ABC’s with “camel” undoubtedly standing for the letter C.
Fifteen minutes into my shift boredom got the best of me and I wandered over to the set up of books, looking for the one that I could easily read while not ruining the binding for the customer who will ultimately buy the book. The End of the Alphabet seemed like the best choice with its small frame, hard cover and lack of interest from our customer base. The book is the first from author CS Richardson, and it’s usually my belief that any first book is valiant but either lacking in style or grace. Although the odds were stacked against it (Acrostic? The first? Egypt?) I gave it a try.
The premise of Alphabet was probably the most gimmicky in existence. It’s been done several times before in every variation possible, and parts of Richardson’s writing style made my eyes roll. Yet there was something about this book that worked. The story follows an alphabet connoisseur 50-something named Ambrose Zephyr and his wife Zappora “Zipper” Ashkenazi. I know, I know; those names are enough to put the book down but I kept on going. The plot ensues and Ambrose gets word from the doctor soon after the book opens that he only has a month to live. During the night after getting this news, Ambrose decides to go to places that have meaning for him over his last month on earth—one place for each letter of the alphabet (yuck). It must be said that the plot and characters are the worst part about the book. Each element that Richardson adds after he puts forth his disgustingly bland and overdone plot device made me thankful that I continued to read.
Richardson knows how to use the right amount of whim to drive the reader to understand Ambrose and Zipper’s emotions and recognize themselves in these characters. The story rides a wave of romanticism throughout and thankfully does not painfully go through each letter of the alphabet only allowing the character to die after the site of “Z” has been conquered. The aesthetics of Alphabet work because it ends quickly without too much wordiness about the death or even the thirty days Ambrose was left to live. The novel is quick, painless, and just emotional enough for such a short read.
This is a case of an author knowing how to place a reader into a story—make a reader want to befriend the characters without the cheese so many sappy novels that deal with death. What Richardson has not quite grasped yet in his writing is a unique story to tell, one that isn’t trite or obvious. As I’ve said before, this is the premier novel and improvement will undoubtedly come with time. I’ll be happy to read a second novel by Richardson, but only if I am stuck again, without entertainment, working in a store with no customers on a boring Sunday afternoon.

Year End Album List 2007

20. Okkervil River, The Stage Names

19. Black Moth Super Rainbow, Dandelion Gum

18. Kevin Drew, Spirit If...

17. M83, Digital Shades Vol. 1

16. Thurston Moore, Trees Outside the Academy

15. Chikita Volenta, The Stars & Suns Sessions

14. Amiina, Kurr

13. Beirut, The Flying Club Cup

12. The Bad Plus, Prog

11. Jens Lekman, Night Falls Over Kortedala

10. Arcade Fire, Neon Bible
I wish there was a fun phrase for the overexposure of Arcade Fire like the Shin’s Brafflash. But alas, there’s not. The reason this album is even in my top albums of the year is really just because spring quarter when I would go running regularly this is what I’d listen to. I’d like to bring back those happy, healthier, simpler times and if putting this in my top ten will make that happen, then I’m going to do it.

http://www.myspace.com/celebrationcelebration

9. Celebration, The Modern Tribe
If nothing else, “Evergreen” is one of the best tracks of the year.

http://www.myspace.com/marniestern1

8. Marnie Stern, In Advance of the Broken Arm
A girl? That shreds? Hard? SWEEEEEEEET.

http://www.myspace.com/thenewpornographers

7. The New Pornographers, Challengers
I think most people ignored this album because it admittedly isn’t as good as some of The New Pornographer’s previous work. I was going to too until I realized how often I actually listened to Challengers this year. So, I gave it another listen a few days ago and realized that it really is a solid album. Although it might be an unconventional pick for a top ten, I think this album (especially the tracks featuring Neko Case and Destroyer’s Dan Bejar) is actually pretty good.

http://www.myspace.com/battlestheband

6. Battles, Mirrored
Math rock is not for girls, but I think that is why Battles is so good. I’m a girl, and I like it.

http://www.myspace.com/mia

5. M.I.A., Kala
Maya Arulpragasam moved from hipster dance party goddess with her 2005 album Arular to 2007 with an album that actually kind of says something in a dynamic way. I like it when artists can grow in their music, especially when they’re already 5 years ahead of the game like M.I.A. will always be.

http://www.myspace.com/lcdsoundsystem

4. LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver
You know an album is good when bloggers and critics are fighting over which of three different songs from this album should be in the top spot for their 2007 Best Songs list (although I still don’t understand putting “North American Scum” in any top ten). Yet, I am nearly positive that I’m the only one in the entirety of the blogging world who actually likes the closing song, “New York I Love You”. Maybe it’s the slow fragility in James Murphy’s voice that makes me melt.

http://www.myspace.com/rippityrippity

3. Panda Bear, Person Pitch
I’d pick Panda Bear over Animal Collective any day. Plus, Person Pitch is innovative and psychedelic in the good way! One can’t ask for much more.

http://www.myspace.com/stvincent

2. St. Vincent, Marry Me
I can hardly believe I put this at number two either, trust me. More than once I have, for an unknown reason, become hopelessly devoted (eerily similar to the song from the musical Grease) to female singer/songwriters. Then, after months of constant play and profession of flawlessness I realize how boring or top 40 or disgustingly adult contemporary rock it really is. I hope I don’t regret this number two position in the future, but as of now, I truly believe Marry Me is the turning point in female singer/songwriter music. It’s better, it’s definitely not flawless, but it rocks a little harder and it uses a little more imagination than your typical female solo artist.

http://www.myspace.com/dirtyprojectors

1. Dirty Projectors, Rise Above
I heard this album several times, not by choice, soon after it came out this year. I was not impressed by the seemingly random guitar noise and scattered, sometimes wailing voices. Then, instead of just hearing, I listened and immediately realized how remarkably musical something could be under the mask of pure noise. Before knowing anything about the “gimmick” of this album I listened a few more times particularly confused by the harsh lyrics against the backdrop of female singers (!!) and the occasional classical instrumentation. Complete oblivion to the story behind bands that I profess to enjoy is a personal vice so I asked a friend to explain the Dirty Proj (as I like to call them) to me. I Learned that Dave Longstreth is a Christ Figure in addition to the fact that this album is a reimagination of the Black Flag album Damaged. These facts added several more layers to my amazement and intense adoration to this conceptualization of music Longstreth has created. He’s no doubt paved a path for understanding and creating new out of old for the future of something that we thought was only repeating itself over and over again.