January 2006 Archives
January 31, 2006
...or what Detroit's finest exports - and I don't mean Jerome Bettis - can tell us about the future of the Democratic Party
I was listening today to "Lose Yourself," Eminem's greatest hit to date. As usual I was struck by the song's climactic line:
Success is the only motherfucking option. Failure's not.
When Eminem says this, you know it's serious. Essentially, the context of the song is that he simply cannot fail in his bid to become a big-time rapper because without success, he cannot feed his family.
(Cue segue.)
Similarly, it seems like there's a whole swath of liberal Democrats who feel America is at a point in our history where failure simply is not an option. They are so upset at the direction we're headed and so concerned that it could result in permanent and disastrous consequences that they have literally reached the maximum level of passion about social change. Success is the only motherfucking option. Failure's not.
The problem for this crowd, however, is that they don't feel like national Democratic leaders are as committed or as passionate about the huge battles being waged for the future of this country. Why didn't anyone oppose Alito from the beginning? Was it really so hard to figure out he was a right-wing crazy?
Why won't Democrats use any means necessary - up to and including crazy publicity stunts, hearings whether the Republicans like it or not, or even impeachment articles - to hold Bush accountable for the Iraq debacle?
Too many activists think that Democratic leadership see success as the preferred option, but, ya know, we might fail too.
I understand it's not so simple. Republicans have big majorities in both houses of Congress. Institutional leadership will simply never be as radical as the fringe elements. Et cetera, et cetera.
But I think there's still something to learn here. Liberal activists see a Republican leadership much more willing to take passionate stands on issues. Frist and Bush pull crazy stunts to earn maximum attention for Terri Schiavo. The House Republicans turn every discussion of Iraq into a referendum on just how traitorous the Democrats actually are. It makes the liberal base furious to think the other sides generals are fighting harder than ours are. Worse, the liberal base thinks our generals aren't even fighting as hard as their own foot soldiers are.
The real trick here is how to address this problem. I don't claim to have any easy answers. First, you have to figure out if there's an actual disconnect between the base and the leadership or if it's all just a perception problem.
I do believe there's a real tendency for Democrats to always play it safe, but I also can't imagine that Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi got into public office just so they could roll over every time their principles were attacked. That's an image problem we need to fix.
Finally, I think it's important to recognize that the Party leadership is starting to change. Liberal blogger Digby made that case persuasively earlier today.
When it became clear that the vote was going against the filibuster, Diane Feinstein, a puddle of lukewarm water if there ever was one, decided to backtrack and play to the base instead of the right wing. That's new folks. Given an opportunity to make an easy vote, until now she and others like her (who are legion) would always default to the right to prove their "centrist" bonafides. That's the DLC model. When you have a free vote always use it to show that you aren't liberal. That's why she was against it originally --- a reflexive nod to being "reasonable."Obama had to choke out his support for a filibuster, but he did it. A calculation was made that he needed to play to the base instead of the punditocrisy who believe that being "bold" is voting with the Republicans. Don't underestimate how much pressure there is to do that, especially for a guy like Obama who is running for King of the Purple. The whole presidential club, including Biden joined the chorus.
The last time we had a serious outpouring from the grassroots was the Iraq War resolution. My Senator DiFi commented at thetime that she had never seen anything like the depth of passion coming from her constituents. But she voted for the war anyway. So did Bayh, Biden, Clinton, Dodd, Kerry and Reid. The entire leadership of the party. Every one of them went the other way this time. I know that some of you are cynical about these people (and ,well, they are politicans, so don't get all Claud Rains about it) but that means something. Every one of those people were running in one way or another in 2002 and they went the other way. The tide is shifting. There is something to be gained by doing the right thing.
Remember, success is our only motherfucking option. Failure's not.
The game is simple. Describe your favorite records of the year, counting backwards.
Wales is a funny little pseudo-country. First of all, they have those crazy long road signs. Second, Cardiff and its environs seem to export an astonishing like number of indie rockers: The Stereophonics, Catatonia, Super Furry Animals. Heck, even Tom "What's New Pussycat?" Jones is Welsh. Finally, the Welsh are pretty proud of the native tongue responsible for those street signs.
How else can you explain the fact that Gruff Rhys, frontman of the aforementioned Super Furries, could put yet another Welsh-language album this year - Yr Atal Genhedlaeth - despite the fact that only a few hundred thousand people can comprehend the language. Now, get this, the album is actually good and you would love it.
The bottom line is that for most of 2005, this was my favorite record of the year and I didn't understand a word of it. I sometimes wonder if that wasn't a good thing. First of all, the words can't distract you this way. You're forced to accept the music as a whole piece and respond to it as a whole piece.
Second, the particular nature of Welsh makes it kinda fun to make up your own images to go along with the songs. To my ear, Welsh sounds like English. Obviously it's not the same, but the meter and the rhythm sounds "right" to me. So, instead of hearing something jarring and indecipherable, I hear something pleasant that doesn't mean anything and can project my own meaning onto the song.
For example, the refrain on my favorite track "Ni Yw Y Byd" sounds to me kinda like "You and Me." I know that's not what he's saying, but that's a pretty nice sentiment for the song. And it's a blast to try to fill in the missing pieces around it.
Bottom line, yeah it in Welsh, but it's also the funnest record of 2005.
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This is perhaps the saddest thing I've ever seen.
January 30, 2006
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The Washington Post gives an updated on Mike Utley, the Lion paralyzed during a game in 1991. Inspirational.
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I can't wait for the World Baseball Classic. Now I can watch it on TV.
January 29, 2006
The game is simple. Describe your favorite records of the year, counting backwards.
"It's really pretty super fantastic." That's how I just described Lou Barlow's Emoh to my friend MacKenzie. Is it any wonder I've named it my #3 record of the year.
There's no real rocket science here. Lou Barlow is just a terrific musician making terrific music. Remember, this is the guy behind Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh, and Folk Implosion.
In fact, because the album lacks any huge risk-taking, I sometimes think of it as nothing more than background music. That's not as big an insult as you might think. It's just that the songs are so enjoyable and so well done, they can't help but make you feel good. So it's enjoyable to have this playing no matter what you're doing.
I don't really have a good handle on why I like this record so much, or even why YOU will like this record so much. In someways, "It's really pretty super fantastic." is about all I feel the need to say. Why analyze something that I could just be listening to and enjoying.
One special award for Emoh, it does earn this year's "Weakerthans Memorial Award for Song-writing About Cats." The closing track - "The Ballad of Daykitty" - is a winner.
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January 28, 2006
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Al Gore's speech from last week. Read it.
January 27, 2006
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Wow. A HUGE guide of things to do in World of Warcraft when you're level 60. This is basically published just for joe.
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The fantastic new video from my new favorite band. It's like early 80's Britrock meets Beulah-style horn lines. I think I'm in love.
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I haven't really had a chance to check these cats out, so I'm adding them to my delicious to examine later. But MacKenzie says they are the dog's tuxedo. That's good enough for me.
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Kos writes on how hard an Alito filibuster would be to maintain. I've been giving the "Do the math!" speech for weeks. If you don't like Alito, then let's win in 2006 and 2008. It's that simple.
January 26, 2006
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Happy Birthday, Chris Chelios. Here's hoping you never stop playing.
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Bill Simmons interviews Curt Schilling, who pulls very few punches. A really interesting look into the Sox.
January 24, 2006
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Apparently, DCFC commissioned videos for every track on Plans. They'll be releasing them online one at a time, I think. The first one out today is for "Marching Bands of Manhattan." It makes no sense.
January 23, 2006
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Good Macworld wrap-up. I especially thought his analysis of iWeb was right on: "As a blogging tool...iWeb is incredibly easy to use." More on iWeb later.
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Easily both the most badass AND the most pro-Michigan news item this week. Note to self: buy a Dodge Charger.
January 22, 2006
The game is simple. Describe your favorite records of the year, counting backwards.
It should be easy to hate Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Their name is too long. Their sound is too Brooklyn. The singer is too mumbly. The whole conceit is too novelty rock. The thing is, the music is just too much fun and too infectious to hate. That's why CYHSY have earned their spot as my #4 record of 2005.
A few thoughts on this album. First, the standout tracks are tough to pick. My absolute favorite is "Let the Cool Goddess Rust Away." Beyond that, it's all kind of a toss-up. I highly recommend you give it a listen to see for yourself.
Second, I do like the fact that I got into this record before the band was even signed based on the recommendation of a few prominent music bloggers. Sure, the snob factor is at work, but I also think it's just kind of fun to have something special that you know and love and that maybe you share with your special "tribe," but that isn't known by everybody and their brother. It just makes you feel special, ya know? And what's wrong with that.
Finally, this is the last debut album on my countdown, so I think it's worth mentioning a conversation I had with my brother-in-law recently that stuck in my mind. We were listening to the new Strokes album (mediocre at best) when I asked him why he thought so many bands with brilliant debuts just couldn't sustain it on succeeding records. His answer was basically that it's hard enough to have one original and important thought. Why should we be surprised when folks don't have two?
I thought this was really cogent (and perhaps a little obvious). Take a band that's been working in relative obscurity for at least months, if not years. Honing their sound, pouring their heart and soul into writing the songs that communicate the feelings that made them play music in the first place. Put that package out for the world. Doesn't it make sense that you've essentially worked so hard on your first record that you've essentially finished saying what you needed to say? That doesn't mean your next record has to suck, just that a natural letdown is almost assured.
What's really amazing are the bands like REM or U2 who can sustain new and original thoughts for decades. When you think about how daunting a challenge that really is, their talent seems even more incredible.
Previously:
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Not-so-good side effect of the recently posted Sandvox competitor to iWeb.
January 21, 2006
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Good article on what you can learn from Steve Jobs' presentation style.
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Another good article on how to keep presentations simple and winning.
January 18, 2006
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Subheadline: Todd still doesn't like Avs, Hattrick Roy (The Greatest Money Goaltender of All-Time...unless you count those two straight game 7's he lost that one time.)
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I am a humungous dork, but I think these super fancy custom CD cases are the cat's pajamas. Maybe even the dog's tuxedo.
January 17, 2006
The game is simple. Describe your favorite records of the year, counting backwards.
Things really start to get interesting on this list with the number 5 entry, Bloc Party's Silent Alarm. To me, these five records are the only complete and unflawed records of the year. They're destined to become remembered and influential, if not all-time classics.
The Bloc Party formula is pretty straightforward. Take good, melodic pop songs that live somewhere between Coldplay and Franz Ferdinand, then gloss the hell out of them in the studio and make them completely alluring dance rock.
It works to perfection on the albums two standouts. "Like Eating Glass" - the album's opener - achieves breakup song perfection with spot on imagery. "It's like drinking poison. It's like eating glass."
Actually, while I'm writing this I'm realizing for the first time that my other favorite, "Blue Light" is ALSO a heartbreaking breakup song. Even before I really understood the lyrics, I knew that it was aimed straight at the heart.
Perhaps, that's Bloc Party's real secret. They're sneaky about it, but they're really making universally relatable breakup songs that you can dance to. Just call them 2005's Postal Service.
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Sounds pretty rad. Go give it a listen.
January 14, 2006
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Pistons wallop Spurs. Again. In San Antonio. Is there any question that Sheed is getting his championship belt back?
January 13, 2006
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Quicktime tour of the new version of Apple's Garageband. This software tries to take the work out of creating podcasts. It looks like they're really trying to jump on the user-created content badwagon.
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Interesting looking competitor to Apple's iWeb from an independent developer. It sure seems to me like there's room for a simple to use desktop program that makes it really really easy for average computer user to create and share.
January 12, 2006
The game is simple. Describe your favorite records of the year, counting backwards.
I'll admit it. Naming Beck's GameBoy Variations EP as my sixth favorite album of the year is kind of cheap. And really, it only made it on the strength of the "Hell Yes" remix known as "Ghettochip Malfunction."
But man does that song rock. Realistically, the remix proves one thing: Beck still has it. Here's what I said when it first came out:
I mean, combine not one, but two robot voices (including a girl robot), funky beats that evoke the classic Odelay but still sounds brands spankin' new, lines like "Now I'm cleaning the floor. My beat is correct", and a late-80's Nintendo music video and you've got yourself the funkiest song in a long, long time. A classic.
Frankly, Beck's Guero album was disappointing. The best example is to compare "Ghettochip" to the album version of "Hell Yes." "Ghettochip" uses the blips and the beats to create an rad dance song. "Hell Yes" uses much sparser production that's not bad, per se. It's just not nearly as good.
In sum: Beck, I know you're still funky. Please let that cat out of the bag a little more often. Thanks.
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A project of students at Swarthmore College, War News Radio is using new technologies (podcasting, skype, etc.) to give Americans an up close view of the war in Iraq.
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Hysterical.
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Further hilarity. Remember Mike Tyson's Punch-Out? (warning: linked page includes WMV video)
January 11, 2006
The game is simple. Describe your favorite records of the year, counting backwards.
Sorry about the delay. I've been...you know...IN THE HOSPITAL!
One of the real highlights of my 2005 as finally seeing Idlewild, one of my favorite bands, live and in concert. I remember that I wasn't feeling well that day and was a little annoyed that I couldn't find anyone to tag along with me to the show. But I also remember that the music was completely transcendent and that I had a terrific time enjoying a terrific band playing songs from a couple of terrific albums - most notably my number 7 album of the year, Warnings / Promises
Like its predecessors, Warnings / Promises hits the three pieces of the Idlewild formula:
- Soaring Guitars
- Roddy Womble's Melancholy Vocals
- High-minded Lyrics that Don't Actually Mean Anything
Check, check, and check. Ultimately, Warnings / Promises doesn't quite live up to their past efforts, but it's still better than 95% of the dreck out there. Standout tracks include "Love Steals Us From Loneliness," "Welcome Home," and "Not Just Sometimes But Always."
Still, to really understand the record, I suggest you find your local rock club and watch the coming attractions like a hawk. When Roddy and his mates swing by, jump at the opportunity.
Previously:
January 9, 2006
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Interesting breakdown of movie theatre economics
January 6, 2006
First of all, I think most of you know that I was in the hospital for a couple of days earlier this week with a severe case of anemia coupled with some nasty food poisoning. The anemia is the bigger problem, and while we don't know exactly what's causing it, they patched me up and sent me home so we can do some more tests in a week or two.
Scary stuff, but it was made a whole lot easier by the pretty fantastic friends and family I have at my side during something like this. The outpouring of gifts and cards and phone calls and kind words is pretty staggering and I only hope I can earn back even a fraction of all that goodwill. Special thanks to Jen and Tracy and Martin and Alan for logging some serious hours watching seriously bad TV at the hospital.
At 20-something you can feel pretty invincible until something like this happens. Then you feel completely powerless. Knowing I have an army of the best people on earth behind me makes me feel strong enough to tackle whatever comes my way. Thanks.
Mom and her new iPod
Once again declared the "Best Christmas Ever" by 1 out of 1 Moms. Flickr photoset here.
