apparently the only picture I have of myself face on, not smiling is from 2007.
Here I am with button eyes, one of the many things you can do and look at on the Coraline website. I feel like I need validate why I'm excited about this movie. The main reason that I'm encouraged is how involved Neil Gaiman is with the promotion. You can really tell that he likes what Henry Selick has done with his book. I follow Gaiman on twitter, and his updates imply that he's doing a ridiculous amount of interviewing for this film and that's great. As opposed to other books that have been made into movies like the Harry Potter series it's apparent this was a joint effort between book and movie production. I think that, along with it not being a movie with real actors (that give books a celebrity factor that always leaves a bad taste in my mouth) are really going to push this film into the category of good-movie-adapted-from-good-book. Hopefully I won't have to bite my tongue when I see the movie after it comes out next week.
I'm not an MGMT fan. Don't worry, that's not a confession. I mean, it's kind of obvious, right? All of their songs sound pretty similar and are about 2X too slow. Borrrrring. But, I have to admit, I think that the song Time to Pretend is a pretty good single for a band that is overplayed and overhyped. Actually, the only reason I can even stand the song, probably, is because I moved to Columbus in the end of August instead of the beginning of 2008. The reason is the local alternative radio station, CD101. The station way overplays its popular songs. I don't blame CD101, I blame the people calling/texting/emailing their requests for the same couple of songs every day. I mean, c'mon, don't people get tired of hearing Pork and Beans after a few days?
CD101 puts out a top 101 songs of each year and the number one requested/played song of 2008 was MGMT's Time to Pretend. Honestly, I didn't even realize the song was a big single on the alt radio circuit, probably because I hadn't listened to anything but NPR until I moved to a city that has a station that plays music that's on the top 40 Alt Music List instead of the top 40 rock/country/pop lists. I would have hated Time to Pretend if I was living in Columbus, listening to CD101, even occasionally, because it would have been played so often. I was lucky enough to move in right as MGMT's Electric Feel got super super popular so that's what I got to hear constantly (now it's Fleet Foxes' White Winter Hymnal. and I hate it).
You're probably wondering why Time to Pretend is, for me, better than any of the other songs MGMT put out. I mean, it's a valid question. They're all by a long haired, shirtless white dude, trying to connect with his inner wolf. There's nothing redeeming about that. I guess it has a lot to do with that hook. You know what I'm talking about. I'm a sucker for a good hook (the Best Example here). The only other reason, and the one that needs to be capitalized on a lot more than it already has, is how meaningful it is. I mean it in the best/worst way possible.
The first time I really recognized that Time to Pretend was a "good" song was after I watched this preview for The Unidentified, a movie that a friend of mine did the sound on. And then it really clicked as the actors ran through the screen changing their perspective on life; this song takes the place of Death Cab's Passenger Seat (/every other song?) as the most meaningful song to ride in a car at night/change the world to. Actually, I think MGMT is the new Death Cab. It is the best band to connect with your mainstream friends over at the moment. I'm proud to be a part of the movement.
A few days ago Al pointed out that Mariah Carey's song Fantasy (hate it when embedding is disabled) samples Tom Tom Club's Genius of Love in the background. Turns out, she even sings some of Tom Tom Club's lyrics near the end of the song (I'm a little disappointed she doesn't say James Brown a few times). Maybe I'm a little dense for not noticing it before but I probably never noticed because I was 10 when Fantasy came out (I listened to the Beatles and Bach back then, didn't really know anything else existed). Looking through the comments under the Fantasy video I linked to, I'm not the only one who just recently realized this either. The sample definitely makes that song/Mariah Carey better though, it's a sweet beat to steal for a pop tune. I think Stephen mentioned once that Genius of Love is the most annoying song ever, but I don't think so. I look at it as way ahead of its time in terms of what it's doing musically. Like, it totally could have come out in 2006 and been a hit. Anyway, are there a lot more pop songs from the 90s that sample good beats via the 70s/80s that I don't know about?
One of my favorite blogs for consistently posting interesting material on a number of subjects is Smashing Telly. The blog is "a collection of the best free, instantly available, TV on the web" (quoted from its mission statement). One of its most recent posts was this 10-minute video explaining scientific theory and calling out those who disagree with science because of personal bias.
The video doesn't say anything I haven't heard before in science classes in college but it does put it in an accessible, concise way which is valuable. Overall, though, I doubt this would change anyone's mind who already doesn't believe in some scientific theories because of a religious belief or another. As Smashing Telly commenter Dan Westlake says, "Who is this aimed at?...obsessive atheists of the Richard Dawkin’s type who enjoy nothing more than having their belief system confirmed." I do agree with what is said in the video, although sometimes I think it can be way too cut and dry. Scientific theory is fact but there are a few important things, I think, that are being left out.
My main problem with arguments such as these is the importance that is put on Science within our life. Yes, without science a lot of indisputably really important things to 21st century life wouldn't exist or be understood. But, why is science something that everyone has to believe in? Argue with me if you think otherwise, but this pressure to accept everything that's classified as scientific truth without pause is just as bad as the pressure put upon us through those evangelizing their religions. Somehow science should be different. It should be considered a little more like math. I don't have to think about it much, but I know it's there when I need it.
this is what a scientist looks like
Connected to the pressure for blind belief in science is the a-little-too-shaky-for-me concept of "truth". I'm not going to go all postmodern zany on yall (s0 freshman/sophomore year of college, right????) but it kind of does freak me out when truth is considered so...true. This video is all like "the function of science is to capture reality!"; "hey you crazies! leave science for those with the discipline and integrity to look for evidence that makes facts!". And I'm all "ugh". All that just sounds like holier-than-thou crap. Science might currently be changing but it has essentially been created, up until now, by a lot of affluent dudes. I'll concede that in the way, way past there was a lot of scientific work done by Islamic philosophers/scientists and that is great. Not EVERYTHING science has come up with has a complete Western slant. But still, it's problematic that this video hails truths (even when they're scientific theories that are checked, re-checked and changed) when things like medical science seems to be currently interested only in things that those with money are interested in. For example, it seems every day breast cancer research is getting more funding, but there are still more medicines that haven't even been tested on women although they are prescribed to them daily. Even if every theory that scientists publish is fact (which is probably is at the time of publication) there is still the question of those theories that didn't make the budget. There are so many things that haven't been discussed or scientifically examined because of money. It's very questionable to mix capitalism and science and then force that science as truth onto everyone everywhere.
I cannot deny the importance and truthfulness of major scientific theories like the Big Bang Theory and the Theory of Evolution, but this very real and very old scientific thought is lumped in with others that might be "true" but perhaps not valuable or for everyone. Who knows, there might also be some very important scientific ideas that are put aside and not discussed enough because they aren't marketable. This is why videos of this nature bother me. Maybe there can't be absolute truths, just what scientists are told through observation, experimentation and logic. And maybe that just isn't good enough.
There have been a couple of articles online lately that have hinted to a new breed of masculinity emerging just in time for 2009. In a Videogum post titled "Bromance Is The Most Important Examination of Modern Masculinity Ever" from a few days ago the new MTV series Bromanceis described as Women-Studies-PhD-thesis-worthy. I don't have cable so I haven't actually seen the show, and even if I did have cable I wouldn't have watched already anyway. From what I gather, Bromance is a reality series/pseudo-game show about a dude (MTV's The Hill's Brody Jenner) getting another dude to be his best friend (al la The Bachelor but with best friendship instead of marriage). In theory, the premise sounds noble-- there is a common, almost primal need for good friend. But in reality, it's a lot harder for the machismo male that's celebrated in American MTV culture to have a special platonic same-sex friend.
The reason Videogum calls this series out as a major player in gender theory is the interaction between contestants vying to be Brody's new Best Friend. Apparently the interaction between contestants and with Brody is kind of, well, gay. In the short Videogum recap video they posted of the show (seen above) the contestants are almost laugh-out-loud uncomfortably funny. The video clip is a lot of dudes trying to show how not gay they are while simultaneously showing a whole lot of tender, genuine emotion in order to snag Brody's attention.* At first I thought the uncomfortable humor on an MTV spin off of a spin off of a reality show was coincidental or maybe just a side effect of the cooky premise but now I don't think it is. On Brody's personal website he (or his publicist, or whoever blogs for him) calls attention to the Videogum post. He even calls it a"bomb-ass" (which, I think means, REALLY AWESOME in bro-in-a-reality-show speak) post. For the main character to point out to his biggest fans these theories as positive and important must mean he's in on the joke. I like that he's being playful in his role as a MTV reality star and his acknowledgment of the idea of homoerotic tension between EXTREMELY STRAIGHT bros is appealing and new for the type of dude that's usually hanging around on MTV.
The other article that's potentially changing masculinty is the MSNBC discussion on Mantyhose. The product mantyhose is being discussedeverywhere now and has blown into this huge internet meme (and yes, I'm adding fuel to this fire. you're welcome). Mantyhose is described as a pantyhose (or probably a lot more like tights) for construction workers, athletes and business men (the very manly positions they list is not an accident) that men use for "support, comfort and aesthetic purposes". The market for mantyhose is probably TINY at most and even smaller when you take out those that buy this product as a gag gift, a prop in a sexual fetish, or an actual legitimate product for the cross-dressing/drag queen population (this group of consumers is purposely left out of this discussion saying, " (the) trend has no connection to men who wear hose to cross-dress, since they prefer to wear pairs that are more feminine"). To be honest, if you buy good quality tights they actually can be really comfortable and warm even though a lot of people wouldn't agree. I actually have a pair of tights that I wear when I know I'm going to be in the cold because they have fleece on the inside I can understand why a dude might want to do the same thing.
The disappointing thing about all the buzz about mantyhose is that it only is buzz. One mainstream media outlet needed something wacky to talk about so their research department found the one online mantyhose shop and reported about it. Then a bajillion other outlets picked it up because they know they'll get hits. They think people are all like OMG GUYS WEARING WOMAN'S CLOTHING? I HOPE THERE ARE PICS. SO ZANY. And people probably are like that. That is why something like this isn't really doing much damage on the general concept of masculinity. The only reason this product is subversive at all (and it's bordering on being something that just exudes a new type of sexism instead of a new kind of masculinity) is actually because it is a product that was originally created for females but a few men have discovered its positive qualities.
Mantyhose has had its fifteen minutes and will probably never catch on to any mainstream population. Bromance, on the other hand, might actually be making some people think. There have to be guys that take their social ques from television and after watching an entire season of Bromance they might be willing to interact with their guy friends a little bit more intimately. Or, maybe not. What's important is that the option is being explored and allowed on a bro-centric channel. Who knows, it might pave the way for more important changes in thought in the future.
*Note: I don't think that when guys show emotion they're gay. But I do think the type of guys on this show typically think it's gay if they show that much emotion.
Since I've been working at The Library for about three months now I can truly say that I'm fairly acclimated to the position. Although what I do is not considered rocket science, as they say, I enjoy each day and find each task I am assigned calming, stimulating or interesting. Because I spend almost all of my time actually in the stacks either shelving, pulling or maintaining I get to see a lot of the collection I would never actually choose to seek out on my own leisure time. This aspect of the job has quickly become my favorite part of working in a library.
Lately I've become extremely interested in kids books. Not picture books that only have a few words on each page, but the bigger, more chapter-y kind. Al doesn't really get this new interest of mine, although he'd deny it if someone asked. He probably thinks what most of the adult population believes. What could a book for kids give me (a very important, smart adult)? It's interesting, though, because the past few children's novels I've read have actually given me more to think about and digest than the Very Adult book (that contains very Adult Things like war, death and sex!) I am currently trying to sift my way through today. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart, in addition to constantly reminding me of The Decemberists (one of its major downfalls), deals heavily with themes of children being considered less-than-human because of their young-ness. This is not a new idea, and was most recently (heatedly) discussed here, but it is still one that doesn't get too much mainstream press or conversation. It's an issue that's hard for me too because I lack the social skills I need to interact with some of my peers let alone people who AREN'T LIKE ME (how DO you talk to a child?) but it is a great step to see it discussed in a very popular book for kids. Children need to understand that this uncomfortable vibe they're getting from the adults around them is legit and imporant in order for it to change. The funny thing about this type of agism is that the -ism really really obviously exists because of fear and I can only assume this fear lies completely in adult's ineptitude to discern the age, thought process or intellegence of anyone under the age of 15. This book surprised me in how intelligent it was throughout but I was very disappointed with the way-too-happy ending. It was the only part of the book that let its i'm-a-novel-for-kids-! flag fly. I console myself in thinking that if I were a 9 year old I would only be happy if a way-too-happy-for-real-life ending happened at the end of the book. Not everything can be as depressingly well done as the Lemony Snicket series.
Another book that I just picked up and have only read the first few pages is The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry (yeah, the The Giver and Number the Stars lady) . Because I haven't even gotten far enough to know the true plot of the book I can't say much except that there are SO MANY GRE words even in the first few pages of this book. This is a book for 9-12 year olds and I've already read the words(after two pages): nefariously, ignominiously, irascible and indolent. Those type of words are never in my VERY IMPORTANT ADULT books and are those I would never ever find in a teen novel (Stephenie Meyer, I'm mean you. You've ruined a generation). Although it's fairly obvious what Lowry is doing, I find it admirable and can only hope these children who read this book and others like it actually remember the new words they've learned so they don't have to spend hours and days memorizing definitions for words that apparently are only ever used anymore in children's literature.
Although this passion for children's lit may die quickly (I'm honestly not too sure how many great kids books there are out there. There seem to be a ton more things like Pony-Crazed Princesses than there are Neil Gaiman books for kids.) I'm glad I found that there is quality in this genre. My hope is that the next book genre I find through my employment proves to be just as fulfilling.
To me, lists of most sorts never exist for pleasure. When made, everything written on them loses its interest and becomes entirely too Written Down. When things are Written Down they become much more set and a lot less do-able. The words just sit there calling for others to look and criticize. This is something I can't handle. Therefore, lists are reserved for very special occasions like when making lists are assigned for homework or groceries (the one list I can get behind). But now, I think I have found a certain kind of list I can actually enjoy without eliciting any criticism. This is not a top ten favorite albums or a twenty things that need to be done today OR ELSE. This is a list of preference. A list that one can only look at and go 'huh. there's a list'. So here it is, 'huh' all you'd like. I present my TOP (any)THINGS of 2008. A little late. Keep in mind, these are all things that may have been around a lot longer than just this past year but this list only includes things I first discovered and loved sometime within the 2008 year.
2008 was not a year of great music for me. Perhaps 2007 was just a little too overwhelmingly good and I couldn't get use to the more subtle greatness in 2008 music...or maybe (for me) it just really really sucked. Lo-fi was cool for awhile but that died in my heart quickly and I can definitely never get behind alt country (Fleet Foxes, I'm talking to you) or the likes of the lo gaze dream pop Beach House droners. I found myself looking backward rather than forward interesting myself in old classics like Sonic Youth and the Breeders in addition to deepening my appreciation for jazz, free and contained. This is why Nat Baldwin really blew my skull. He hit the right spot in 2008 because he knew how to recall true musicality via his upright bass/jazz sensibilities while banging on the door to the future of sweet, awesome music (like Dirty Projectors did with Rise Above in 2007) with freedom and using a different voice- literally and figuratively to show off his passion.
I think Hipster Runoff is the clever (/young/urban-ish/privileged/etc) person's Stuff White People Like. We're all looking to mock what we are now-a-days and HRO does a good job making everything a little less meaningful.
Favorite Magazine of 2008:Make/Shift feminisms in motion
Seriously. This thing changed my life and things never change my life, I'm extremely constant. I picked it up on my way to work on a Monday in Amherst (the slowest retail day at the slowest retail store) and couldn't put it down during my 8-hr shift. Then, I read it again. It's in only on its fourth issue now (I think it comes out only twice a year) but it's heavy enough that you can get 6 months out of each issue. It questions, spins around and trashes everything I think or want to believe. Just what I want in life. The article that got me interested is here, I'd recommend reading that at least.
Favorite Celeb of 2008: Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon with a side of J Mascus They lived in Northampton, shopped in the store I worked for, and I was obsessed. What else can I say?
Favorite Sandwich of 2008: EITHER the Nantucket from Woodstar Cafe or the Vegan BLT from the Green Bean, both in Northampton Mass.
I couldn't make a decision. Sorry guys. These two sandwiches are both so great because they really pushed the idea that a sandwich doesn't have to be the same old PB&J every day. The Nantucket includes: turkey, cheddar, cranberry sauce, granny smith apple, mayo, and dijon on country sourdough. I don't even like cranberry sauce, but it somehow worked with the rest of the ingredients, the dijon really sticking out in my mind as a good kick, to make a to-die-for meal (because, honestly. that's a meal in itself). The vegan BLT, on the other hand, might be a normal thing in some parts of the country, but I'd never seen one offered on a menu with the "B" being slabs of tempeh instead of the generic Morning Star Farms-esq bacon you'd think you'd see on something passing as vegetarian. In addition, who knew vegan mayo could be so good?
Favorite Book of 2008:Grotesque by Natsuo Kirino (yeah, I know it came out in 2007 but I read it in 2008) This book isn't amazing. It's translated, which I think is its biggest drawback because the writing is just a little off. Previously I only picked up latest McSweeney's for my leisure needs while I was generally consumed by assigned school books. Although I haven't been out of school too long, I hadn't found my book groove again until I read this novel. This crime drama also drew me out of my comfort zone in terms of what books I think I'll enjoy and what will pique my interest while browsing the stacks.
Favorite Space 2008:AS220 AS220 is a non-profit community art space that makes Providence, RI about 100% cooler than it could ever be on its own. If there is a good show it's going to be at AS220 and if there is a ridiculous altbag/bro/broad/diva they're going to be at AS220. Connected to the art space is a room that is divided between a bar (that has Narragansett tall boys) and the best taco place ever, Taqueria Pacifica. They put things like sweet potatoes and fresh green beans in their tacos. How could my life possibly ever be the same again?
Favorite Drink of 2008: Coffee, black
2008 was the first year that I understood what all the coffee hype was about. I bought a french press (and actually didn't master it until, like, 2 weeks ago) and stared trying to understand what coffee was all about. Although I still never drink more than one cup a day and I will never turn my back on my beloved tea, I have to admit that I finally get it.
Favorite Show of 2008: Nat Baldwin at Hampshire College's Red Barn, March, 2008 This show was intimate and Baldwin and his crew gave us a lot of sweet sweet freedom. Baldwin without his band is a force to be reckoned with, but I definitely prefer him with a full band-- sax, guitar, drums, trumpet. They really know how to give you chills and blow you away. Maybe my favorite show of all time?
Favorite Article of Clothing of 2008: cardigans
Al says that my personal brand is "comfy-ness". He's probably right. I own about 10 cardigans and wear at least one of them every day. Layering is great yall.
Favorite Breakfast Joint of 2008: Jakes, Northampton, Mass To be honest their food isn't really that good. It's greasy diner food with no meat alternatives and boring waffles. But this places holds some good Total Boner Meeting memories, watching the other members eat their beloved No Frills breakfast which was a fine mixture of meat, eggs, cheese and potatoes somehow melded together in a way that made it divine (maybe if I ate bacon or sausage at the time and could validate eating that much food for breakfast I would have ordered one too). I was happy enough with my El Paso (two pieces of corn bread with egg, beans, salsa, cheese and sour cream on top). Jakes also had the best restaurant art- huge black and white drawings of old jazz musicians. Definitely a reason to go back to Mass.
Favorite Bath Goods of 2008: Anything from Lush Although I had heard of it and seen it before Lizzy really introduced me to the world of Lush. Their natural products smell great and are different than anything else I've ever seen. I am in love with my coalface cleanser which I first saw reference to in the movie Annie Hall. Black! Soap! Amazing!
Narransett is the best cheap beer ever made. It also took me a few tries to even know how to pronounce it (kinda dumb) which makes it even better. It's a huge disappointment that it's only sold in a few states, Ohio not being one of them. Allagash is not a cheap beer but it's good enough to spend the dough. I don't know anything about beers so I can't say anything intelligent about it but it is really light, crisp and good and again kind of hard to get over here in Ohio.
Hello (again). How many times do I have to give up and start again before I move on? Apparently once more. Let's see if things go anywhere this time. It's a new year, right? Might as well try something different.
