Monday, January 31, 2005
Top Ten Cover/Sample Songs of All Time
Many of the greatest songs of all time were not written by the performer but rather were actually covers (also included in this list are a few samples and rearrangments that strictly speaking arenot covers). Enjoy my list:
10. Janis Joplin Piece of My Heart -- Joplin so made this song her own many people don't even realize it's a cover. The original was byAretha Franklin's sister Erma.
9. Run DMC Walk This Way -- Not only a very early example of sampling, it also brought rap mainstream and -- for better or worse -- revived the career of Aerosmith.
8. Pearl Jam Rockin in the Free World -- Although never actually recorded in the studio this song has become a staple of PJ's live repertoire and almost a standard. PJ's fast and furious version of this song and Vedder's constant updates to lyrics have given this already great song some new fire. "He says he's a man of the people; I think it's a lie" PJ's also responsible for the excellent cover and number one hit Last Kiss. A stroke of genius picking that one out and redoing it. Listen to the original sometime it doesn't hold a candle to PJ's version and is poorly recorded. . .
7. Eminem Stan -- Eminem sort of covered of Dido's Thank you in his song Stan in the sense that he sampled her song by seemlessly incorporating into his brilliant six minute hit Stan. Oh yeah, in the process he made Dido's career.
6. Sloop John B. The Beach Boys -- This incredble song featured on the brilliant and highly underrated Pet Sounds is Wilson's rearranging of an old traditional and arguably not really a cover at all. The song is just so damn good though it had to be included here. . . I really wish the Beach Boys would get more love. . .
5. Bobby Darin Mack the Knife -- This smooth ass cover a showtune helped Darin cement his image as a super cool dude and makes us ask the questions why it is that is more people don't dust off the old tunes and perform them a la Darin and the Doors stellar version of the almost ancient Alabama Song. . .
4. Elvis Presley Blue Suede Shoes -- What even needs to be said of the Pelvis's great rendition of this Carl Perkins tune?
3. Johnny Cash Hurt -- This song was behind what is arguably the greatest video of all time (with respek to Radiohead's Just) and the de facto epitaph of the late great American icon Johnny Cash. The video is beyond moving and the original really not all that good at all. Cash covering Nine Inch Nails who'd have thought that would work?
2. Joe Cocker With a Little Help from My Friends -- It's generally a bad idea to cover the Beatles. The wrote some incredible shit and can almost definitely play it better than you can. But this so-so Beatles number originally sung by Ringo -- hands down the least fab of the Fab Four -- was given new life by virtue of Cocker's brilliant 1969 rendition that you may recall also served as the theme song to The Wonder Years.
1. Jimi Hendrix All Along the Watchtower -- This all time classic was the perfect collaboration. The off the scale writing talent of the great Bob Dylan combined with the formidible talents of Jimi Hendrix. This song just became something new in the hands of Jimi. Dylan himself started playing the song in Jimi's style making this perhaps the only song where the original writer wound up covering a cover of his own song.
There are many here among us;
Who feel that life is but a joke,
Moses
|
Many of the greatest songs of all time were not written by the performer but rather were actually covers (also included in this list are a few samples and rearrangments that strictly speaking arenot covers). Enjoy my list:
10. Janis Joplin Piece of My Heart -- Joplin so made this song her own many people don't even realize it's a cover. The original was byAretha Franklin's sister Erma.
9. Run DMC Walk This Way -- Not only a very early example of sampling, it also brought rap mainstream and -- for better or worse -- revived the career of Aerosmith.
8. Pearl Jam Rockin in the Free World -- Although never actually recorded in the studio this song has become a staple of PJ's live repertoire and almost a standard. PJ's fast and furious version of this song and Vedder's constant updates to lyrics have given this already great song some new fire. "He says he's a man of the people; I think it's a lie" PJ's also responsible for the excellent cover and number one hit Last Kiss. A stroke of genius picking that one out and redoing it. Listen to the original sometime it doesn't hold a candle to PJ's version and is poorly recorded. . .
7. Eminem Stan -- Eminem sort of covered of Dido's Thank you in his song Stan in the sense that he sampled her song by seemlessly incorporating into his brilliant six minute hit Stan. Oh yeah, in the process he made Dido's career.
6. Sloop John B. The Beach Boys -- This incredble song featured on the brilliant and highly underrated Pet Sounds is Wilson's rearranging of an old traditional and arguably not really a cover at all. The song is just so damn good though it had to be included here. . . I really wish the Beach Boys would get more love. . .
5. Bobby Darin Mack the Knife -- This smooth ass cover a showtune helped Darin cement his image as a super cool dude and makes us ask the questions why it is that is more people don't dust off the old tunes and perform them a la Darin and the Doors stellar version of the almost ancient Alabama Song. . .
4. Elvis Presley Blue Suede Shoes -- What even needs to be said of the Pelvis's great rendition of this Carl Perkins tune?
3. Johnny Cash Hurt -- This song was behind what is arguably the greatest video of all time (with respek to Radiohead's Just) and the de facto epitaph of the late great American icon Johnny Cash. The video is beyond moving and the original really not all that good at all. Cash covering Nine Inch Nails who'd have thought that would work?
2. Joe Cocker With a Little Help from My Friends -- It's generally a bad idea to cover the Beatles. The wrote some incredible shit and can almost definitely play it better than you can. But this so-so Beatles number originally sung by Ringo -- hands down the least fab of the Fab Four -- was given new life by virtue of Cocker's brilliant 1969 rendition that you may recall also served as the theme song to The Wonder Years.
1. Jimi Hendrix All Along the Watchtower -- This all time classic was the perfect collaboration. The off the scale writing talent of the great Bob Dylan combined with the formidible talents of Jimi Hendrix. This song just became something new in the hands of Jimi. Dylan himself started playing the song in Jimi's style making this perhaps the only song where the original writer wound up covering a cover of his own song.
There are many here among us;
Who feel that life is but a joke,
Moses
Sunday, January 30, 2005
Million Dollar Piece of Ass
(There is no spoiler in this review)
Although I am a generally happy guy with no major complaints, like many people I know I go to the movies to escape reality. I enjoy taking about 2 hours out of my day when I can immerse myself in another reality. For that reason I like movies that take me somewhere. Somewhere different fun and colorful. For example The Royal Tennenbaums. While it has it's sad parts it's generally upbeat and funny and most importantly it affords me a nice little escape.
I also like girls. A lot. Especially really pretty ones.
I also like sports, in particular what I consider the holy trinity of sports: baseball, boxing and horseracing.
So with all this mind I thought I would take Yoko to see the Hillary Swank movie Million Dollar Baby. I thought, "this is going to be fantasmo how could you go wrong?". You got the super duper hot Hilary Swank to look at for like three hours, you got a movie about boxing and you got a nice little escape from life for a few hours on an otherwise uneventful and freezing cold Saturday afternoon. And did I mention how hot I think Hillary Swank is?
Ok so I go, with Yoko in tow, to watch this movie and I am loving it. Hillary is looking, we're getting some fun movie boxing action and having fun.
Then all of a sudden they drop this crazy mayhem plot twist on me and I am depressed for the next two hours after the movie and arguing with Yoko about whether or not I was actually crying during the movie (the truth is that I was tearing but certainly not "crying" in a sense where the word would mean anything other than tearing).
Anyway, go see this movie at your own peril. It's a pretty decent movie truth be told. But I am getting really sick of these super depressing over the top flicks. . .
Thank God that Blue was having people over for the fight and I was able to acheive normalcy later in the day. . .
Number one contender for the middleweight crown;
Had no idea what kinda shit was about to go down,
Moses
|
(There is no spoiler in this review)
Although I am a generally happy guy with no major complaints, like many people I know I go to the movies to escape reality. I enjoy taking about 2 hours out of my day when I can immerse myself in another reality. For that reason I like movies that take me somewhere. Somewhere different fun and colorful. For example The Royal Tennenbaums. While it has it's sad parts it's generally upbeat and funny and most importantly it affords me a nice little escape.
I also like girls. A lot. Especially really pretty ones.
I also like sports, in particular what I consider the holy trinity of sports: baseball, boxing and horseracing.
So with all this mind I thought I would take Yoko to see the Hillary Swank movie Million Dollar Baby. I thought, "this is going to be fantasmo how could you go wrong?". You got the super duper hot Hilary Swank to look at for like three hours, you got a movie about boxing and you got a nice little escape from life for a few hours on an otherwise uneventful and freezing cold Saturday afternoon. And did I mention how hot I think Hillary Swank is?
Ok so I go, with Yoko in tow, to watch this movie and I am loving it. Hillary is looking, we're getting some fun movie boxing action and having fun.
Then all of a sudden they drop this crazy mayhem plot twist on me and I am depressed for the next two hours after the movie and arguing with Yoko about whether or not I was actually crying during the movie (the truth is that I was tearing but certainly not "crying" in a sense where the word would mean anything other than tearing).
Anyway, go see this movie at your own peril. It's a pretty decent movie truth be told. But I am getting really sick of these super depressing over the top flicks. . .
Thank God that Blue was having people over for the fight and I was able to acheive normalcy later in the day. . .
Number one contender for the middleweight crown;
Had no idea what kinda shit was about to go down,
Moses
Saturday, January 29, 2005
Album Review: The Molo Sessions
Do yourself a favor and go to www.pearljam.com and order the Molo Sessions. It's a collaboration between Eddie Vedder and the Walmer High School choir from South Africa the album has about 15 tracks, many of which are the choir alone and a feew of which are Eddie with the choir. Among the songs they are Betterman, The Long Road and Loveboat Captain. The choir is, at the very least, just a really interesting listen. Their beautiful voices are the perfect to Eddie famous growl even on these sweet ballads.
Best of all Sales will benefit Molo Care , a Seattle non-profit that raises money for schools in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Get this limited edition gem while you can.
It has never been like this before,
Moses
|
Do yourself a favor and go to www.pearljam.com and order the Molo Sessions. It's a collaboration between Eddie Vedder and the Walmer High School choir from South Africa the album has about 15 tracks, many of which are the choir alone and a feew of which are Eddie with the choir. Among the songs they are Betterman, The Long Road and Loveboat Captain. The choir is, at the very least, just a really interesting listen. Their beautiful voices are the perfect to Eddie famous growl even on these sweet ballads.
Best of all Sales will benefit Molo Care , a Seattle non-profit that raises money for schools in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Get this limited edition gem while you can.
It has never been like this before,
Moses
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
GREAT BUSH JOKE
Q: How many Bush Administration officials does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: None. There is nothing wrong with the light bulb; its conditions are improving every day. Any reports of its lack of incandescence are a delusional spin from the liberal media. That light bulb has served honorably, and anything you say undermines the lighting effect. Why do you hate freedom?
Come you masters of war,
you who kill deceive,
Moses
|
Q: How many Bush Administration officials does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: None. There is nothing wrong with the light bulb; its conditions are improving every day. Any reports of its lack of incandescence are a delusional spin from the liberal media. That light bulb has served honorably, and anything you say undermines the lighting effect. Why do you hate freedom?
Come you masters of war,
you who kill deceive,
Moses
The Story of Flint
Excerpted from The Lucifer Principle: A Scientific Expedition Into The Forces of History:
The cutting of the ties that bind can be fatal even in the wild. Jane Goodall, the researcher who has studied chimpanzees in the Gombe game preserve of Africa since 1960, saw the principle at work in a young animal named Flint. When Flint was born, his mother adored him. And he, in turn, doted on her. She hugged him, played with him, and tickled him until his tiny, wrinkled face broke out in the broad equivalent of a chimpanzee smile. The two were inseparable.
When Flint reached the age of three, however, the time came for his mother to wean him. But Flo, the mother, was old and weak. And Flint, the chimpanzee child, was young and strong. Flo turned her back and tried to keep her son away from the nipple. But Flint flew into wild tantrums, lashed about violently on the ground, and ran off screaming. Finally, a worried Flo was forced to calm her son by offering him her breast. Later, Flint developed even more aggressive techniques for ensuring his supply of mother's milk. If Flo tried to shrug him off, Flint struck her with his fists, and punctuated the pummeling with sharp bites.
At an age when other chimps have freed themselves from parental apron strings, Flint was still acting like a baby. Though he was a strapping young lad, and his mother was increasingly feeble, Flint insisted that his mama carry him everywhere. If Flo stopped to rest and Flint was anxious to taste the fruit of the trees at their next destination, the hulking child would push, prod and whimper to get his mom moving again. Then he'd climb on her back and enjoy the ride. When shoves and whines didn't motivate his mother to pick him up and cart him where he wanted to go, Flint would occasionally give the exhausted lady a strong kick. At night, Flint was old enough to build a sleeping nest of his own. Instead, he insisted on climbing into bed with his mommy.
Flint should have turned his attention from Flo to the other chimps his age, forging ties to the superorganism--the chimpanzee tribe--of which he was a part. But he did not. The consequence would be devastating.
Flint's mother died. Theoretically, Flint's instincts should have urged him to survive. But three weeks later, he went back to the spot where his mother had breathed her last and curled up in a fetal ball. Within a few days, he too was dead.
An autopsy revealed that there was nothing physically wrong with Flint: no infection, no disease, no handicap. In all probability, the youngster's death had been caused by the simian equivalent of that voice which tells humans going through a similar loss that there's nothing left to live for. Flint had been cut loose from his single bond to the superorganism. That separation had killed him.
In the time of chimpanzees I was a monkey,
Moses
|
Excerpted from The Lucifer Principle: A Scientific Expedition Into The Forces of History:
The cutting of the ties that bind can be fatal even in the wild. Jane Goodall, the researcher who has studied chimpanzees in the Gombe game preserve of Africa since 1960, saw the principle at work in a young animal named Flint. When Flint was born, his mother adored him. And he, in turn, doted on her. She hugged him, played with him, and tickled him until his tiny, wrinkled face broke out in the broad equivalent of a chimpanzee smile. The two were inseparable.
When Flint reached the age of three, however, the time came for his mother to wean him. But Flo, the mother, was old and weak. And Flint, the chimpanzee child, was young and strong. Flo turned her back and tried to keep her son away from the nipple. But Flint flew into wild tantrums, lashed about violently on the ground, and ran off screaming. Finally, a worried Flo was forced to calm her son by offering him her breast. Later, Flint developed even more aggressive techniques for ensuring his supply of mother's milk. If Flo tried to shrug him off, Flint struck her with his fists, and punctuated the pummeling with sharp bites.
At an age when other chimps have freed themselves from parental apron strings, Flint was still acting like a baby. Though he was a strapping young lad, and his mother was increasingly feeble, Flint insisted that his mama carry him everywhere. If Flo stopped to rest and Flint was anxious to taste the fruit of the trees at their next destination, the hulking child would push, prod and whimper to get his mom moving again. Then he'd climb on her back and enjoy the ride. When shoves and whines didn't motivate his mother to pick him up and cart him where he wanted to go, Flint would occasionally give the exhausted lady a strong kick. At night, Flint was old enough to build a sleeping nest of his own. Instead, he insisted on climbing into bed with his mommy.
Flint should have turned his attention from Flo to the other chimps his age, forging ties to the superorganism--the chimpanzee tribe--of which he was a part. But he did not. The consequence would be devastating.
Flint's mother died. Theoretically, Flint's instincts should have urged him to survive. But three weeks later, he went back to the spot where his mother had breathed her last and curled up in a fetal ball. Within a few days, he too was dead.
An autopsy revealed that there was nothing physically wrong with Flint: no infection, no disease, no handicap. In all probability, the youngster's death had been caused by the simian equivalent of that voice which tells humans going through a similar loss that there's nothing left to live for. Flint had been cut loose from his single bond to the superorganism. That separation had killed him.
In the time of chimpanzees I was a monkey,
Moses
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Word of the day:
logorrhea
Main Entry: log·or·rhea Pronunciation: "lo-g&-'rE-&, "lä-Function: nounEtymology: New Latin: excessive and often incoherent talkativeness or wordiness
I got memories,
I got shit,
Moses
|
logorrhea
Main Entry: log·or·rhea Pronunciation: "lo-g&-'rE-&, "lä-Function: nounEtymology: New Latin: excessive and often incoherent talkativeness or wordiness
I got memories,
I got shit,
Moses
From Bob Dylan's Chronicles Volume One:
"He asked me about my family. I told him about my grandma on my mom's side who lived with us. She was filled with nobility and goodness, told me once that happiness isn't on the road to anything. That happiness is the road. Had also instructed me to be kind because everyone you'll ever meet is fighting a hard battle. "
I like that. . . I look forward to reading the book.
How does it feel?,
Moses
|
"He asked me about my family. I told him about my grandma on my mom's side who lived with us. She was filled with nobility and goodness, told me once that happiness isn't on the road to anything. That happiness is the road. Had also instructed me to be kind because everyone you'll ever meet is fighting a hard battle. "
I like that. . . I look forward to reading the book.
How does it feel?,
Moses
Monday, January 24, 2005
Shout out to Johnny Carson one seriously funny muzza chunka. . .
We'll miss you Johnny. . .
He's a cold hearted snake,
Moses
|
We'll miss you Johnny. . .
He's a cold hearted snake,
Moses
Wellness Tip
Do not allow drunken friends around your iTunes unless you are willing to have them download Paula Abdul and force you to listen to it. . .
Straight up now tell me,
Moses
|
Do not allow drunken friends around your iTunes unless you are willing to have them download Paula Abdul and force you to listen to it. . .
Straight up now tell me,
Moses
Friday, January 21, 2005
Unforgivableness: The Primordial Sin
There is currently a two part Ken Burns series dealing with the life of the Jack Johnson entitled Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson which deals with the fascinating life of early twentieth century pugilist Jack Johnson and his life as the one time black Heavyweight Champion of the World when the so called "world" was a very white one. I would encourage all Blog on the Tracks/Blogrophenia readers to watch this movie that appears in two parts (including a back to back showing of both parts this Saturday).
One of the themes in this movie is the idea of sexuality and race which when mixed in this country are as volatile, in the words of Ken Burns as TNT. We have seen this as recently as afew months back when there was a huge controversy about a naked white woman (from Desperate Housewives) jumping into the arms of a black man, Terrel Owens. A few months before that in the Kobe Bryant trial where the case against the black Bryant by a white woman he had had sex with captivated the nation until dropped alltogether suddenly and mysteriously. And, of course, in another incarnation about a decade ago in the outrage about the OJ Simpson trial. This country just does not like "it's women" (read: it's white women) making it with non-white men. It's the ultimate, and perhaps, the primordial sin.
As the son Egyptian immigrants some of my earliest memories are being called a "sand nigger" in my almost exclusively white grammar school. In the post 9/11 world one one might even paraphrase John Lennon and go so far as to say "Arab is the Nigger of the World".
And so it should come as no surprise that I, able to claim both Africa and Arabic as my only cultural and ethnic heritage have a tale of woe and romance.
It was years ago that I was dating a woman who told me that although she loved and wanted to pursue a relationship that it could never work because her family would never accept me. She said that her family could never trust me and that they would always be waiting for me to "quote take the children and head back home". I actually giggled and wondered to myself where exactly that home would be? Where would I take her children? Long Island? The Hamptons? Montauk? It strikes me as absurd now, but I believe that it is a function of that same "unforgivable blackness" the phrase that the great W.E.B. Dubois coined and that Ken Burns is now using in his movie about Jack Johnson. There is a certain "unforgivableness" about race in this country that makes it especially threatening to powers that be when we love their women. Perhaps, it is the primordial desire of the individual to spread his own genes, that animal jealousy that may give to some man taking your daughter. But only if he looks like you. . .
Like the knife that cuts you the wound heals,
But the scar,
that scar remains, *
Moses
* Give me a break on the Poison quote I was getting too deep there. . .
|
There is currently a two part Ken Burns series dealing with the life of the Jack Johnson entitled Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson which deals with the fascinating life of early twentieth century pugilist Jack Johnson and his life as the one time black Heavyweight Champion of the World when the so called "world" was a very white one. I would encourage all Blog on the Tracks/Blogrophenia readers to watch this movie that appears in two parts (including a back to back showing of both parts this Saturday).
One of the themes in this movie is the idea of sexuality and race which when mixed in this country are as volatile, in the words of Ken Burns as TNT. We have seen this as recently as afew months back when there was a huge controversy about a naked white woman (from Desperate Housewives) jumping into the arms of a black man, Terrel Owens. A few months before that in the Kobe Bryant trial where the case against the black Bryant by a white woman he had had sex with captivated the nation until dropped alltogether suddenly and mysteriously. And, of course, in another incarnation about a decade ago in the outrage about the OJ Simpson trial. This country just does not like "it's women" (read: it's white women) making it with non-white men. It's the ultimate, and perhaps, the primordial sin.
As the son Egyptian immigrants some of my earliest memories are being called a "sand nigger" in my almost exclusively white grammar school. In the post 9/11 world one one might even paraphrase John Lennon and go so far as to say "Arab is the Nigger of the World".
And so it should come as no surprise that I, able to claim both Africa and Arabic as my only cultural and ethnic heritage have a tale of woe and romance.
It was years ago that I was dating a woman who told me that although she loved and wanted to pursue a relationship that it could never work because her family would never accept me. She said that her family could never trust me and that they would always be waiting for me to "quote take the children and head back home". I actually giggled and wondered to myself where exactly that home would be? Where would I take her children? Long Island? The Hamptons? Montauk? It strikes me as absurd now, but I believe that it is a function of that same "unforgivable blackness" the phrase that the great W.E.B. Dubois coined and that Ken Burns is now using in his movie about Jack Johnson. There is a certain "unforgivableness" about race in this country that makes it especially threatening to powers that be when we love their women. Perhaps, it is the primordial desire of the individual to spread his own genes, that animal jealousy that may give to some man taking your daughter. But only if he looks like you. . .
Like the knife that cuts you the wound heals,
But the scar,
that scar remains, *
Moses
* Give me a break on the Poison quote I was getting too deep there. . .
A Brief Statement on the Mission of My Blog
I would like to take this anniversary week to reiterate the sort of idea behind this blog. This blog is a basically a mostly daily update on my thoughts and msuings the first time around. Taht is to say the entires are hardly, if at all edited. They are purport to and indeed have no particular theme or current flowing through them, unless otherwise noted and not even necessarily full formed thoughts. Many of the ideas are simply embrionic idea that I would like to work out later. As I've said, the quantity of people interested in this blog has been humbling and I am grateful but quite frankly I would continue to write this blog even if no one were.
How many years can a mountain exist,
Before it's washed to the sea?
Moses
|
I would like to take this anniversary week to reiterate the sort of idea behind this blog. This blog is a basically a mostly daily update on my thoughts and msuings the first time around. Taht is to say the entires are hardly, if at all edited. They are purport to and indeed have no particular theme or current flowing through them, unless otherwise noted and not even necessarily full formed thoughts. Many of the ideas are simply embrionic idea that I would like to work out later. As I've said, the quantity of people interested in this blog has been humbling and I am grateful but quite frankly I would continue to write this blog even if no one were.
How many years can a mountain exist,
Before it's washed to the sea?
Moses
Thursday, January 20, 2005
Bo Jackson, Harddrives and Relationships
Very few kids today even know who he is but if you were born anytime between the late sixties and the mid seventies and give a rat's ass about sports you know who Bo Jacksonis. He may have been one of the best, if not the best athlete, of his generation. He was a Hall of Fame running back in college and the NFL and outstanding college baseball player who was simply electric as a MLB player. He famously ran over Bosworth and hit three homers in one game at Yankee Stadium (which I attended - btw Deion Sanders hit an inside the parker when Bo dove for and missed his blast - but I seriously digress).
Bo was great. In his autobiography he says, to paraphrase him and Dick Schaap his co-author, that he will be very honest but that there are certain things that he has to keep to himself. I always remembered that.
So it was recovered from my mental harddrive when I found myself in a computer store recently talking to salesman about harddrives.
"Why" I asked him, "is it that hardrives are listed at say 80 gigs but then you only see like 68 gigs or something when you look up the memory via windows?"
"Well" he responded, "you see the 80 gigs are all there but certain of them are hidden"
"Hidden? What possible reason would a computer manufacturer have to 'hide' gigs?", I queried growign increasingly suspicious.
"Well, it basically is saving is saving a little juice", he said suddenly a bit more informal in the face of my sarcasm. "You know like say when you cut and paste something, to use a small example, it needs some gigs to do that. It's just good to have some spare memory"
All of which got me thinking: Is it a good idea for us to save a few things for ourselves? Is it a good idea to have a few gigs saved just sort of for us? Can it be that a healthy relationship can actually benefit from a little secrecy? Now I am envisioning nothing prurient or lascivious here nothing hurtful or shameful, but just a little bit for oneself. In fact not even necessarily in a romantic relationship but in any relationship: Is it a good idea to simply keep "a little something to oneself?"
I have mostly subscribed to the school of thought that "the truth shall set you free" or that when "you got nothing you got nothing to lose" and that one should always err on the side of honesty. But really, how smart is that?
Just working some ideas out. Any thoughts?
Oh life is bigger than you;
and you are not me;
The lengths that I must go through;
The distance in your eyes,
Moses
|
Very few kids today even know who he is but if you were born anytime between the late sixties and the mid seventies and give a rat's ass about sports you know who Bo Jacksonis. He may have been one of the best, if not the best athlete, of his generation. He was a Hall of Fame running back in college and the NFL and outstanding college baseball player who was simply electric as a MLB player. He famously ran over Bosworth and hit three homers in one game at Yankee Stadium (which I attended - btw Deion Sanders hit an inside the parker when Bo dove for and missed his blast - but I seriously digress).
Bo was great. In his autobiography he says, to paraphrase him and Dick Schaap his co-author, that he will be very honest but that there are certain things that he has to keep to himself. I always remembered that.
So it was recovered from my mental harddrive when I found myself in a computer store recently talking to salesman about harddrives.
"Why" I asked him, "is it that hardrives are listed at say 80 gigs but then you only see like 68 gigs or something when you look up the memory via windows?"
"Well" he responded, "you see the 80 gigs are all there but certain of them are hidden"
"Hidden? What possible reason would a computer manufacturer have to 'hide' gigs?", I queried growign increasingly suspicious.
"Well, it basically is saving is saving a little juice", he said suddenly a bit more informal in the face of my sarcasm. "You know like say when you cut and paste something, to use a small example, it needs some gigs to do that. It's just good to have some spare memory"
All of which got me thinking: Is it a good idea for us to save a few things for ourselves? Is it a good idea to have a few gigs saved just sort of for us? Can it be that a healthy relationship can actually benefit from a little secrecy? Now I am envisioning nothing prurient or lascivious here nothing hurtful or shameful, but just a little bit for oneself. In fact not even necessarily in a romantic relationship but in any relationship: Is it a good idea to simply keep "a little something to oneself?"
I have mostly subscribed to the school of thought that "the truth shall set you free" or that when "you got nothing you got nothing to lose" and that one should always err on the side of honesty. But really, how smart is that?
Just working some ideas out. Any thoughts?
Oh life is bigger than you;
and you are not me;
The lengths that I must go through;
The distance in your eyes,
Moses
Today is the inauguration for the Great Divider, George W. Bush's, second term. It is a bitter day for many Americans and an almost tragic day for the world and humanity in general.
My only comment is this: "But many that are first shall be last; and the last first." - Gospel of Mark, 10:31
God help us all.
We got a thousand points of light,
For the homeless man,
We got a kinder, gentler,
Machine gun hand,
We got department stores,
and toilet paper,
Got styrofoam boxes,
for the ozone layer,
Got a man of the people,
says keep hope alive,
Got fuel to burn,
got roads to drive,
Moses
|
My only comment is this: "But many that are first shall be last; and the last first." - Gospel of Mark, 10:31
God help us all.
We got a thousand points of light,
For the homeless man,
We got a kinder, gentler,
Machine gun hand,
We got department stores,
and toilet paper,
Got styrofoam boxes,
for the ozone layer,
Got a man of the people,
says keep hope alive,
Got fuel to burn,
got roads to drive,
Moses
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Blogroversary
Today marks the official one year anniversary of this blog. It's been a great year. Thanks to everyone.
Go back and read the first ever Blog entry from last to get an idea of what we were thinking about then.
Also watch Law and Order tonight as Blogrophenia/Blog on the Tracks friend Annie Parisse makes her debut as the new ADA. . .
Once again folks: THANKS!!!!!!!!!
Ev'rybody had a good year,
Ev'rybody let their hair down,
Ev'rybody pulled their socks up,
Ev'rybody put their foot down,
Moses
|
Today marks the official one year anniversary of this blog. It's been a great year. Thanks to everyone.
Go back and read the first ever Blog entry from last to get an idea of what we were thinking about then.
Also watch Law and Order tonight as Blogrophenia/Blog on the Tracks friend Annie Parisse makes her debut as the new ADA. . .
Once again folks: THANKS!!!!!!!!!
Ev'rybody had a good year,
Ev'rybody let their hair down,
Ev'rybody pulled their socks up,
Ev'rybody put their foot down,
Moses
For an interesting piece on Mozart and a generally promising new blog (inspired by Blog on the Tracks/Blogrophenia) visit my friend's new brand new blog at: http://www.spitfireshurricane.blogspot.com/
Will the real slim Shady please stand up?
Moses
|
Will the real slim Shady please stand up?
Moses
Monday, January 17, 2005
Movie Review: Closer
Well probably the nicest thing that I can say about this movie is that it isn't as bad as The Englush Patient or The Hours. But it's approaching them. Simply stated: This movie is about two sluts and two jerks who spend two hours lying to everybody and being mean.
I still haven't seen The Aviator. Hopefully I will this week.
Alright;
That sucked;
Yowza!,
Moses
|
Well probably the nicest thing that I can say about this movie is that it isn't as bad as The Englush Patient or The Hours. But it's approaching them. Simply stated: This movie is about two sluts and two jerks who spend two hours lying to everybody and being mean.
I still haven't seen The Aviator. Hopefully I will this week.
Alright;
That sucked;
Yowza!,
Moses
Sunday, January 16, 2005
One Year
This Wedneday January 19, 2005 will mark the one year anniversary of this blog. After one year of being Blogrophenia we have opted for a provisional change of title to: Blog on the Tracks: A Shelter from the Storm.
It has certainly been interesting having this blog for a year and we have appreciated the overwhelming response that we have gotten from the readers. At last count this Blog was receiving as many as 200 hits a week (each visitor is only counted once regardless of visits). We have also appreciated the various comments that have been posted and we would encourage you to keep it up and for those of you who don't comment we invite you to have your voice heard.
Special thanks, in no particular order, to Happy Sax for always reminding us when we get too serious. To "he who sits" for reminding us of the importance of sanity. To Yolanda/My Sister Elizabeth for not letting us get away with anything. To Ruffy for her thoughtful self effacing humor. To Blue Trash for just being himself. To The Pops for suggesting this whole damn thing in the first place. To G for his acerbic and witty comments. To Snaxdzl for being the wise ass and the funniest son of @%$# around.
We are sure that we are forgetting many and apologize in advance. So let's cover our collective ass with a big fat THANKS TO ALL OF YOU. IF YOU DIDN'T READ THIS WOULD IT STILL BE WRITTEN? (or something never was good at koan kreation)
The program for the next year is more of the same. . .
It's been a month and day since I've heard myself talk,
Moses
|
This Wedneday January 19, 2005 will mark the one year anniversary of this blog. After one year of being Blogrophenia we have opted for a provisional change of title to: Blog on the Tracks: A Shelter from the Storm.
It has certainly been interesting having this blog for a year and we have appreciated the overwhelming response that we have gotten from the readers. At last count this Blog was receiving as many as 200 hits a week (each visitor is only counted once regardless of visits). We have also appreciated the various comments that have been posted and we would encourage you to keep it up and for those of you who don't comment we invite you to have your voice heard.
Special thanks, in no particular order, to Happy Sax for always reminding us when we get too serious. To "he who sits" for reminding us of the importance of sanity. To Yolanda/My Sister Elizabeth for not letting us get away with anything. To Ruffy for her thoughtful self effacing humor. To Blue Trash for just being himself. To The Pops for suggesting this whole damn thing in the first place. To G for his acerbic and witty comments. To Snaxdzl for being the wise ass and the funniest son of @%$# around.
We are sure that we are forgetting many and apologize in advance. So let's cover our collective ass with a big fat THANKS TO ALL OF YOU. IF YOU DIDN'T READ THIS WOULD IT STILL BE WRITTEN? (or something never was good at koan kreation)
The program for the next year is more of the same. . .
It's been a month and day since I've heard myself talk,
Moses
R-I-P. . . JETS. . . RIP RIP RIP
Well the Jets should be proud. They were a field goal away from a berth in the AFC Championship and were two missed FG's from beating 15-1 Pittsburgh at home. It was a great two games and this team is poised to do well next year. Although his whining to/about the media is insufferable at times you have to like Pennington's makeup. I love Herm Edwards and I wish the Jets well (until they face KC). . .
Here's to next year. And get well wishes to the Eggman who looked like insanity was right around the corner when last scene drinking VT's on the LES after the game. . .
I must say though I really felt for Jets fan, just a tough tough loss.
Either I'm too sensitive or else I'm gettin' soft,
Moses
|
Well the Jets should be proud. They were a field goal away from a berth in the AFC Championship and were two missed FG's from beating 15-1 Pittsburgh at home. It was a great two games and this team is poised to do well next year. Although his whining to/about the media is insufferable at times you have to like Pennington's makeup. I love Herm Edwards and I wish the Jets well (until they face KC). . .
Here's to next year. And get well wishes to the Eggman who looked like insanity was right around the corner when last scene drinking VT's on the LES after the game. . .
I must say though I really felt for Jets fan, just a tough tough loss.
Either I'm too sensitive or else I'm gettin' soft,
Moses
Saturday, January 15, 2005
Taco Hell (or "A Rather Unsanitary Interlude")
Had you been standing in the Taco Bell in mid town last week you may have witnessed something bizarre. As you stood there, waiting perhaps for your chalupa and extra large Coke, you may have apprehended an extremely handsome young man with a shaved head and a piercing gaze enter the Taco Bell order three meximelts with extra cheese and then almost immediately and rather angrily ask for his particular $20 bill back and then, after receiving it and successfully cancelling his order, stomp out.
Perhaps you would have thought of him as just another weirdo in Manhattan or maybe you'd think that he was just a jerk. In both cases you would be wrong. For unless you were watching very very carefully you would not have seen the cashier actually lick her index and middle fingers as she counted the change back to the handsome young man.
You see the stunningly handsome young man saw this and nearly gagged. The last thing he wanted was for this cashier to exporate on his money as she handed it to him immediately preceding his sitting down for his already unhealthy meal during flu season.
He considered telling her (and her manager) why he wanted his money, but ultimately decided to simply cancel his order and leave that Taco Bell. Never to return.
Don't stand, Don't stand, Don't stand so close to me,
Moses
|
Had you been standing in the Taco Bell in mid town last week you may have witnessed something bizarre. As you stood there, waiting perhaps for your chalupa and extra large Coke, you may have apprehended an extremely handsome young man with a shaved head and a piercing gaze enter the Taco Bell order three meximelts with extra cheese and then almost immediately and rather angrily ask for his particular $20 bill back and then, after receiving it and successfully cancelling his order, stomp out.
Perhaps you would have thought of him as just another weirdo in Manhattan or maybe you'd think that he was just a jerk. In both cases you would be wrong. For unless you were watching very very carefully you would not have seen the cashier actually lick her index and middle fingers as she counted the change back to the handsome young man.
You see the stunningly handsome young man saw this and nearly gagged. The last thing he wanted was for this cashier to exporate on his money as she handed it to him immediately preceding his sitting down for his already unhealthy meal during flu season.
He considered telling her (and her manager) why he wanted his money, but ultimately decided to simply cancel his order and leave that Taco Bell. Never to return.
Don't stand, Don't stand, Don't stand so close to me,
Moses
Friday, January 14, 2005
The New York Jets
Many of you have asked me. The Jets and their chances this weekend, as I wrote in an e-mail to my exclusive invite only sports discussion group:
I strangely feel better about this weekthan I did last week, but ultimately I think will lose. See last weekI thought they had NO chance, this week I think they got a shot. But that's it: a shot. . .
The big Z also wrote to expect the unexpected from the Jets which I agree with. . .
Benny and the Jets,
Moses
|
Many of you have asked me. The Jets and their chances this weekend, as I wrote in an e-mail to my exclusive invite only sports discussion group:
I strangely feel better about this weekthan I did last week, but ultimately I think will lose. See last weekI thought they had NO chance, this week I think they got a shot. But that's it: a shot. . .
The big Z also wrote to expect the unexpected from the Jets which I agree with. . .
Benny and the Jets,
Moses
Avenue Q
I realize that I am approaching being two years late with this review but last night I saw Avenue Q an incredible and original show capable, perhaps, of revitalizing interest in theatre one of my favorite mediums.
The outstanding Avenue Q is a play with puppets -- that's right folks -- puppets. Old school Sesame Street like puppets. Some are furry (the so called monster race more on that later), the blue puppets, green puppets, etc. But even stranger than that the puppets have real life problems and lives. One is gay, another two have a relationship and have sex on stage, the is a slutty puppet and even a porn addicted one.
So the show deals with the real life issues of 20-40 y/o. Some of the themes are: purpose in life, male female relationships, coming out as gay and even married life a bit. It deals with these in an original, interesting and extremely humorous manner. Between the puppets, the two flatscreens at either side of the stage that offer lessons that juuxtapose Sesame Street and Drs. Ruth and Phil and the clever songs the play zips through 2 hours leaving you wondering where the time went.
The play pokes fun at us as adults while it talks to us as children. In one of the highlights of the show the puppets "everyone's a little bit racist" as if teaching us like the PC children that we are. In another a big furry monster sings the internet is for porn telling us something we realize but don't necessarily ever acknowledge. That this invention often heralded as the greatest invention since the Gutenberg press is in fact constantly being used as jerk off material for people around the globe. In "Schadenfreude" the characters introduce a word familiar to few besides the ultraliterate, those fluent in German and fans of Nietzsche ("all laughter is Schadenfreude") in a very interesting twist where the audience may literally be learning a new word. All of this is done with musical aplomb and fantastic humor.
But the show crescendoes both musically and thematically with "For Now" when the main character, Princeton, is forced to deal with the fact that he may not find purpose and the other characters comfort him with: "You're going to have to make a few compromises...For now"
Avenue Q is a brilliantly fun theatre experience that you won't soon forget. If you haven't seen it yet (although I am sure many of you have) go see it!!!
Look around and you will find
No one's really color blind,
Moses
|
I realize that I am approaching being two years late with this review but last night I saw Avenue Q an incredible and original show capable, perhaps, of revitalizing interest in theatre one of my favorite mediums.
The outstanding Avenue Q is a play with puppets -- that's right folks -- puppets. Old school Sesame Street like puppets. Some are furry (the so called monster race more on that later), the blue puppets, green puppets, etc. But even stranger than that the puppets have real life problems and lives. One is gay, another two have a relationship and have sex on stage, the is a slutty puppet and even a porn addicted one.
So the show deals with the real life issues of 20-40 y/o. Some of the themes are: purpose in life, male female relationships, coming out as gay and even married life a bit. It deals with these in an original, interesting and extremely humorous manner. Between the puppets, the two flatscreens at either side of the stage that offer lessons that juuxtapose Sesame Street and Drs. Ruth and Phil and the clever songs the play zips through 2 hours leaving you wondering where the time went.
The play pokes fun at us as adults while it talks to us as children. In one of the highlights of the show the puppets "everyone's a little bit racist" as if teaching us like the PC children that we are. In another a big furry monster sings the internet is for porn telling us something we realize but don't necessarily ever acknowledge. That this invention often heralded as the greatest invention since the Gutenberg press is in fact constantly being used as jerk off material for people around the globe. In "Schadenfreude" the characters introduce a word familiar to few besides the ultraliterate, those fluent in German and fans of Nietzsche ("all laughter is Schadenfreude") in a very interesting twist where the audience may literally be learning a new word. All of this is done with musical aplomb and fantastic humor.
But the show crescendoes both musically and thematically with "For Now" when the main character, Princeton, is forced to deal with the fact that he may not find purpose and the other characters comfort him with: "You're going to have to make a few compromises...For now"
Avenue Q is a brilliantly fun theatre experience that you won't soon forget. If you haven't seen it yet (although I am sure many of you have) go see it!!!
Look around and you will find
No one's really color blind,
Moses
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Guest Blog: The Pops Reviews the Albums of 2004
Today's guest blog is from Blogrophenia co-creator and regular reader: The Pops. He is offering us an comprehensive review of the alternative/alternative rock/rock/punk genre (i.e. normal music) with his top ten list of the albums of 2004. Here we go:
10 U2 'How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb"
9 The Killers "Hot Fuss"
8 The Cure "The Cure"
7 Interpol "Antics"
6 Loretta Lynn "Van Lear Rose"
5 Wilco "A Ghost is Born"
4 Franz Ferdinand "Franz Ferdinand"
3 Morrissey "You are the Quarry"
2 The Libertines "The Libertines"
1 Green Day "American Idiot"
I get by with a little help from my friends,
Moses
|
Today's guest blog is from Blogrophenia co-creator and regular reader: The Pops. He is offering us an comprehensive review of the alternative/alternative rock/rock/punk genre (i.e. normal music) with his top ten list of the albums of 2004. Here we go:
10 U2 'How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb"
9 The Killers "Hot Fuss"
8 The Cure "The Cure"
7 Interpol "Antics"
6 Loretta Lynn "Van Lear Rose"
5 Wilco "A Ghost is Born"
4 Franz Ferdinand "Franz Ferdinand"
3 Morrissey "You are the Quarry"
2 The Libertines "The Libertines"
1 Green Day "American Idiot"
I get by with a little help from my friends,
Moses
Monday, January 10, 2005
Tsunami Relief
For those of you who have asked me how you could help:
eBay and PayPal have provided ways to donate to Tsunami reliefefforts. eBay is supporting 26 different charities. Those of you with a PayPal account know how easy it is (Unicef only).To donate through eBay, go to:http://pages.ebay.com/tsunamirelief/index.htmlTo donate through PayPal go to:https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_tsunami_relief-outside
Cut and pasted from an e-mail from Tums in SF. . .
All You Need is Love,
Moses
|
For those of you who have asked me how you could help:
eBay and PayPal have provided ways to donate to Tsunami reliefefforts. eBay is supporting 26 different charities. Those of you with a PayPal account know how easy it is (Unicef only).To donate through eBay, go to:http://pages.ebay.com/tsunamirelief/index.htmlTo donate through PayPal go to:https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_tsunami_relief-outside
Cut and pasted from an e-mail from Tums in SF. . .
All You Need is Love,
Moses
Sunday, January 09, 2005
Yankee Land
Things are as bad as they have been in Yankee land in a looooong time. Now mind you things can't really get THAT bad for the Yanks but consider:
1. The Yanks after an amazing run from 1996-2000, have now failed to win any of the last four WS's.
2. For the first time -- maybe ever -- the Yanks appear to be all tapped out cash wise. Some have even speculated that the Yanks are now operating in the red. At any rate, it appears at least that the Yanks simply couldn't afford Beltran.
3. The Yanks big acquistion was of an - albeit brilliant - 42 year old man who is 6'9 with knee problems and other health issues.
4. The Yanks are generally old, overpaid and George can't be happy.
I am not saying that things are bad for the Yankees (I saw four Expos games this past year including their last one and three games there and I have some friends who followed them so. . .) but I do think that things are at least in as bad a situation as they have been in a long time.
It's getting better all the time,
Can't get much worse,
Moses
|
Things are as bad as they have been in Yankee land in a looooong time. Now mind you things can't really get THAT bad for the Yanks but consider:
1. The Yanks after an amazing run from 1996-2000, have now failed to win any of the last four WS's.
2. For the first time -- maybe ever -- the Yanks appear to be all tapped out cash wise. Some have even speculated that the Yanks are now operating in the red. At any rate, it appears at least that the Yanks simply couldn't afford Beltran.
3. The Yanks big acquistion was of an - albeit brilliant - 42 year old man who is 6'9 with knee problems and other health issues.
4. The Yanks are generally old, overpaid and George can't be happy.
I am not saying that things are bad for the Yankees (I saw four Expos games this past year including their last one and three games there and I have some friends who followed them so. . .) but I do think that things are at least in as bad a situation as they have been in a long time.
It's getting better all the time,
Can't get much worse,
Moses
Saturday, January 01, 2005
A "Bald" Faced New Day
Happy New Year Blogrophenia readers. 2005 finds me for the most part healthy and cautiously optimistic about our collective future. I stayed in last night feeling, among other things, it inappropriate to spend my night carousing when over 150,000 lay dead.
On the last day of 2004 I shaved my head, saw the Life Aquatic and visited the Russian Baths and woke up today without a hangover on January 1 for the first time possibly since the 1980's. . .
Already a few people have asked me why it is that I have shaved my head. Well ritual head shaving is an age old tradition that is found in many religions. To this day many Orthodox Jewish women shave their heads right after getting married. Similarly men in that tradition have been know to shave their heads except for their sideburns which was a response to the Pagan tradition of doing exactly that. Of course Samson is the Old Testament figure who derived his strength from his hair. Christian monks and monks in many traditions have been known to shave their heads. Buddhists monks do as well -- think Dalai Lama. In addition to monks priests such as Hindu priests often shave. Similarly the priests of Ancient Egypt shaved their heads and to this day Muslims in the Middle East shave their head after performing the Haj (the pilgrimage to Mecca). But head shaving also can be a sign of mourning. Hindu widows must shave their heads.
In short, head shaving is a ritual that has connotations of purification for the pious and even a tinge of mourning. For me I felt that it was a symbolic gesture in many ways. It comes after my trip to the land of my parents, one of purification for the New Year and even one of mourning for the fallen victims of Tsunami.
I'm so lonely, that's ok I shaved my head ,
Moses
Happy New Year Blogrophenia readers. 2005 finds me for the most part healthy and cautiously optimistic about our collective future. I stayed in last night feeling, among other things, it inappropriate to spend my night carousing when over 150,000 lay dead.
On the last day of 2004 I shaved my head, saw the Life Aquatic and visited the Russian Baths and woke up today without a hangover on January 1 for the first time possibly since the 1980's. . .
Already a few people have asked me why it is that I have shaved my head. Well ritual head shaving is an age old tradition that is found in many religions. To this day many Orthodox Jewish women shave their heads right after getting married. Similarly men in that tradition have been know to shave their heads except for their sideburns which was a response to the Pagan tradition of doing exactly that. Of course Samson is the Old Testament figure who derived his strength from his hair. Christian monks and monks in many traditions have been known to shave their heads. Buddhists monks do as well -- think Dalai Lama. In addition to monks priests such as Hindu priests often shave. Similarly the priests of Ancient Egypt shaved their heads and to this day Muslims in the Middle East shave their head after performing the Haj (the pilgrimage to Mecca). But head shaving also can be a sign of mourning. Hindu widows must shave their heads.
In short, head shaving is a ritual that has connotations of purification for the pious and even a tinge of mourning. For me I felt that it was a symbolic gesture in many ways. It comes after my trip to the land of my parents, one of purification for the New Year and even one of mourning for the fallen victims of Tsunami.
I'm so lonely, that's ok I shaved my head ,
Moses
