A War of Attrition

I love seeing live music. There is almost nothing else in this whole world like it. A giant crowd singing or screaming their heads off in unison, or a small intimate gathering of individuals listening intently to the next up and comer. These are moments to be held and cherished for all time. Enjoying the the bliss that comes from spending countless hours with your friends driving around the country to see a band that you have been trying to see for years... These are the things that make music so damn worth while.

However lately it has seemed like there is a bit of a war going on within the music scene (i am mostly speaking of the indie scene). If you have a job or possible early classes, or mayhaps just are not a night owl, it is almost impossible to see good shows. They rock shows seem to start later and later every year. Whatever happened to the 7:00 PM all ages show that was over no later then 10. It allowed you to either go home, and get some sleep or hang out later with friends and discuss what you had just seen.

I love my job, I take a good deal of pride in my job, but I am sick of having to choose between my job and a desire to see a band. I can not believe that everyone who is going to the show is seriously so busy that they can't show up until 11:00. What the hell are all of these people doing before the show anyways? I understand that if you work a second shift schedule, its impossible for you to get anywhere before the witching hour, but I don't believe that most of these people actually fall into this category. It seems like year after people show up even more fashionable late then before. Look I get that it sucks to be the first person at the show, but really midnight? Are you shitting me? What were you doing before you got to the show? Is there some super secrete bar or party that happens before shows that I am not privy to?

It seems the older I get the less faces I recognize at the show. Part of that of course that people lose interest in seeing shows. I understand that impulse. It is very rare that a show comes through my town that I actually care about. However I think a bigger reason is that as you get older you have more responsibilities, and thus can't be out drinking and watching rock till 3:00 AM on a Tuesday. It simply won't work.

A Clarification of my position

I am a computer guy. Try as I might to avoid them, deny them, and on rare occasions destroy them, they are are a huge part of my life. I have been rather obsessed with them since I was 13 years old. I decided at that young and tender age that I was going to be a software developer. I am in fact now a software developer.

My love/hatred of computers often leads people to misunderstand my point. This is mostly b/c I am a HORRIBLE communicator. I have very explicit beliefs on what the best operating system is, and what I want out of all of my gadgets. I am Debian GNU Linux man, and I don't get a lot of newer tech ideas (see blue tooth headsets). While I was very impressed initially by the iPhone, as I read more about it, I cooled. It simply does not do several things that I want a phone to do, and I get the distinct feeling I would not be wild about the interface. If your wild about the interface, that's great. I am not saying it can't work for you. I am saying that it doesn't work for me.

Here's the major problem though. People don't get it when I complain about various things Apple Inc does. It's not that I don't find it funny; it's not even that some of the ads are incredibly untrue (which they are), it's that I am not making these statements as a disgruntled windows user or even an M$ (thats Microsoft for those scoring at home) fan boy. Trust me, I am neither. I in fact loath Windows. I am a very satisfied user of Linux. Sure I have complaints about my OS, but I think it's the best thing going. It's free, I have tons of free software, it runs very smoothly, and I can customize as much as I want. It's everything I need. So if you ever meet me (or anyone like me) we are not saying mean things about Apple. We are simply amazed at the idea that people think that there is nothing better then a Mac and the bizarre cult of personality that has developed around the Mac.

The way Apple is going these days, it won't be long before you drive your iCar to the local Starbucks and order your iLatte. So please don't get me wrong, Apple is a solid company. They make nice and what seem to be reliable products, but I won't simple give them a pass on all criticism. I don't understand why anyone would. So please the next time I say I am not a fan of some piece of technology, be it the iPhone, the Wii, blue tooth headsets, please don't take it personally. I am not making an indictment of your life. I am simply saying I don't agree. Well, unless of course your that ass hat at the bar or the store talking on their blue tooth headset at the top of their lungs for all to hear. FUCK YOU! YOUR NOT THAT IMPORTANT!!!! HOW HARD IS IT TO PUT THE PHONE TO YOUR HEAD? HONESTLY, HOW FUCKING HARD IS THAT!

An Annoying Duality

One of my favorite things in this world is to go out and watch the baseball game at the bar. I don't really care who's playing (though a Red Sox or a Yankees game is ideal). All I want to see is a well played game. Pitchers dual? Suits me just fine. I can put my newfangled information that I gleam from Will Carol to use. Big time hitting match up? No worries I am certain Will Carol's colleges can shed some light on something I hadn't noticed before, or mayhaps Rob Neyer, Keith Law, Peter Gammons, or Jonah Keri (he does work for both ESPN and Baseball Prospects) will offer me up a new way to watch the game I love. Oh, and how can we forget the all might Buster Olney. The point is this, I LOVE BASEBALL. I spend an unhealthy amount of time thinking about it, reading about it, and talking about it to ANY of my friends who will listen. I don't even care if they like baseball.

Now here is where the duality sets in. If I do not know you, please for the love all that is holy and right in this world don't talk to me while I am watching the game. If you don't have anything to bring to the table, that's fine. Please just act as if you have been struck dumb. I am not looking for you to be an expert on the game (lord knows I am not), but please do not detract from my enjoyment of the game. Things that I would prefer that you not do.

1) Tell me about how you love getting stoned. If Roger Clemens is going for his 350 win, I promise you that I find that infinitely more interesting then your theories on where to get good weed. Really it's great that you like the herb, but I really couldn't care less.

2) Trying to convince me why everyone needs a permit to carry a hand gun, and how we should adopt ANY law strongly endorsed by Texas. In fact, can we make a new rule that says, "If Texas thinks it's a good idea, we are going to do the opposite." Can we get that put on the books somewhere please?

3) Please feel free not to tell me about how you just don't like baseball and think it's slow paced and various other things along this line of thinking. I DON"T CARE. Did I ask how you felt about the game? Nopah, can't say that I did.

The point is thus, please I beg you, if you don't have something to offer that will in some way increase my enjoyment of the game, "don't speak."

Why yes, I am in fact a fan boy.

I love watching well crafted TV shows. I am 100% unapologetic about this. I don't understand people who sit around and say TV is worthless and that it has never offered up anything good. I certainly can understand people who do not have enough money in their budget to afford cable or even a TV for that matter. These are not the people I am speaking of. I can even appreciate people who would simple rather read a book. The people I take exception with, are the sanctimonious individuals who sit there and pretend they are better then everyone else because they don't watch TV, and often times think those who do watch TV are addle minded sheep.

Last night a show that gave me more joy and happiness (and for far to short a time) then any other show has in a very long time. It was a show that did everything that I love. For as horrible a writer as I am, and even though I have a complete inability to spell, I think the study of language and the ability to craft a well formed thought is crucial. That's why I find the end of Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip to be rather heart breaking. This was a show that for once expressed politics as I see them. It addressed the hypocrisies that liberalism can lead to (not unlike conservatism for those scoring at home), actually real race issue as the exist in and outside of the Black community, it talked about religion in an honest and real way, it discussed morals and more importantly moral imperatives. In short the show depicted what life can and sometimes is like.

It's gone now, and a void will exist in my heart where this show once was. I dunno, maybe people are right...maybe there isn't anything good on.

An Irony of Sorts.

People oft think I am joking when I say, "technology is the devil." I could not be more serious when I utter those words. Now, this is a bit of a duality because I am a software developer. My problem with technology mostly stems from how people use it. I am in fact a huge fan of new and inventive technology, but I question how much of it is useful. I am the first to admit that my iPod and I are in a torrid love affair, but what I absolutely can not stand is the whole cult of personality that goes with the iPod. Lets be clear, the iPod is not necessarily a better device then most other mp3 players (in fact there are about 4 things I can not stand about it). The things that makes the iPod so successful are that it was first and that it was able to develope a huge cult of personality behind it. Now that cult of personality has led to some truly inventive occurrences. I bought mine solely b/c it has far and away the best car integration scheme going. However b/c of the iPod's cult of personality status, it gets tons credit it does not deserve.

Contrary to popular belief, you are no more or less artistic and creative if you use Apple products. Apple inc. is a solid company who make fine products, but they are also egregious liars. Their entire Mac vs PC add campaign is simply untrue in most cases. This is dangerous. Not in a, "HOLY SHIT IT'S COMING RIGHT FOR US!", kind of way, but in a how responsible is it for a large international corporation to spread patent (and in some cases baseless) lies?

The other issue with technology is a far more personal issue. I have increasingly found myself in conversations with people who tell me about some theory they read about T.V. show X on some Internerd site. Now, I have no problems with the idea of cyber communities, but what I don't like is how they can often taint shows. Often times writers get sucked into reading these chat rooms to see what the "average" person thinks about their show. Well I got news for you, these people are not "average" by any definition. Then writers start trying to cater to these people and often times lose what was good about the show in the first place. Coughtheoccough. Also these groups tend to be inhabited by the most reactionary people on the planet. One bad episode? Your shows jumped the shark. Odds are the episode wasn't even that bad, but everyone wants to be the first person who realized that show X jumped the shark. I will never understand this impulse (odds are it has something to do with a decline in western civilization, but that's a different blog) as long as I live.

The other wonderful joy this whole Internet and T.V. revolution has brought us is web content actually made by the show. Lost is a prime example of this. I enjoy how Lost has done this, but I fear the precedent. With Lost you can completely ignore the web content and be no worse for wear. However I see a day in the not to distant future where to watch a T.V. show, you will be forced to surf the Internerd for hours on end in order to keep up with the latest episode of Over the Top Teen Docudrama X. I find this to be an extremely tiring and depressing idea.

A small bit of thievery

I have been meaning to write. I promise...see I just have not had much to say that would be positive. Sure I could bitch about love, life, and a lack of a love life, but what fun is that? Instead I shall steal something from my friend Heather. She poses question that she refers to as "Weekly survey for the thinking class." I like the questions for the most part, so here we go.

1. What book, comic or magazine would you like to live inside?
I have to go with Dune here. However, I would want to be a descendant of Usul. I want the cool powers and shit. However I do not wish to go insane or become a giant slug. These are the rules.

2. List a few things you can buy for less than a dollar that make you happy.
So I don't really have any of these. This means one of two things. Either A, I am very materialistic or B the dollar simple does not have the buying power it once did. I would say its a healthy mix of the two. See what I did there, I made it sound like it was an either or situation, and then BAM I changed it to a combination. Damn I am crafty...

3. Write an obituary for any current cultural reference you want. (example: the death of lower back tattoos, Borat catchphrases, backwards ball caps, etc.)

On Thursday May 31st, the Pastel Polo Shirt with the collar "Popped" died of shame. It was a long time coming said the family of Pastel "Popped" Polo shirt. The family was not quite ready for this passing to occur. Many women are now unsure as to what to do. The Pastel "Popped"Polo Shirt served as either a mating call or a sign to avoid. Most girls heard the sounds, "DANGER WILL ROBINSON DANGER!", every time one was near. This will make bars a far far more dangerous place for women. Cynical men everywhere will have a harder time picking out their targets to mock. Pastel "Popped" Polo Shirt, you will be missed.

4. Is it hypocritical that every Democrat candidate took a private jet to the debate, instead of the better-for-the-environment traveling methods like carpooling, flying commercial, or finding a way to reduce their environmental impact?

Not so much since, these people may or may not even like one another. Plus, there is no telling what their schedules are like before or after the event. It would be way to hard for them to coordinate all of that.

5. What is a modern food marvel that offends you the most (examples: GO-gurt, blue ketchup)

Whatever that peanut butter and jelly in the same jar stuff is. I was once reduced to eating it on tour b/c I was so desperate for anything other then a peanut butter sandwich. It was bad times.

6. If you had a title in life, like most people have a title at work on their business cards, what would your title be?

Reluctant yet enthusiastic lush.

7. Do you believe the justice system works?

Not even a tiny bit.

8. What are the reasons you would never be able to be P.O.T.U.S.?

Besides the fact that I have no concept of how most of the things the president is suppose to do work, I have far to many horrible things in my past to even remotely consider this.

9. Best advice you have received in the year 2007 and where did it come from?
Someone suggested I pick up JJ Hardy in one of my fantasy baseball leagues. That has been panning out rather well.

10. What large corporation would you not mind endorsing in your life?

Well, I work for FedEx so I suppose it should be them.

Things that I find to odd

A very popular topic of conversation amongst the people I know seems to be about how a place is not as cool as it once was because of X reasons. Sometimes these reasons are more then valid, but a lot of the times they are just rather silly. In the interests of full discloser, I am just as as guilty of making up some truly moronic reasons not to go to a place anymore. However, the one that I find to be the most perplexing is this one, "that place has just gotten to white lately..." Now, if this was coming out of the mouth of someone who is not white, I would have two thoughts on the subject.

1) Wow, thats a rather fucked up raciest thing to say.
2) Yeah, I see what you mean.

However this tends to come out of the mouths of various Anglo-Saxon people in my life. Ironically I have the exact same reaction to this statement from them, but for wildly different reasons. Even more stunning is that I am supper annoyed when the later group says it. None of this is particularly fair, but it does happen. I am not even terribly sure why I would give a pass to all the people of the rainbow but one, but I tend to. I am not actually a fan of anyone using logic like this about a place, but I am even less of a fan of hypocrisy. I do not understand how anyone can fault a place or group of people for doing exactly what they are doing themselves. This is pure silliness. You can not be the loan cool individual of any group. Life simply does not work that way. Well, unless of course you are hanging out with a bunch of kids who like SKA a whole bunch, and you hate it. If that is the case, then you are light years cooler then your counter parts, but still not that cool since you are hanging out with people who like SKA...