A friend of mine who lives in L.A. recently posted about the fact that rock and roll out there (and maybe everywhere) is too pretty now. He hates that bands are now loved becuase they're physically attractive instead of being made physically attractive by their music and attitude. I definitely take issue with the first part of the claim, but find its second part insightful.
One band that makes that sentiment ring true for me is Fall Out Boy. I'm not a fan of theirs by any stretch of the word, but they have one song/video that I love, that made me swoon for the lead singer, who I would say is pretty much ugly by most standards. In Sugar, We're Going Down, he makes the strangest (ugliest) faces and somehow comes off as incredibly attractive. (I'm awful to say this, but now he's fat and has gross sideburns and I find him repulsive when making the very same movements and faces.)
Such is the fickle attitude of a non-hardcore fan.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
The Power of Knowledge
"According to a recent survey, only about a quarter of the population of the United States understands that evolution is about as well established as the fact that water is H20. This embarrassing statistic requires some explanation, since other scientifically advanced nations don't show the same pattern. ...It is simple: they have been solemnly told that the theory of evolution is false (or at least unproven) by people they trust more than they trust scientists." -Daniel Dennett, Breaking the Spell
This is appalling to me. The theory of evolution poses no real threat to religion (as much as I wish it did). Just as you can believe that the earth is round and revolves around the sun, you can believe in evolution. I suspect that hardly anyone takes the Judaic/Christian creation story literally any more - my dad, for instance, told me when I was young (and this was controversial for me at the time) that he believed God created the earth in an instant, but that it was created with a history (whatever that means) - so it doesn't matter if there were never such people as Adam and Eve.
Evolution can easily be worked into a Christian's worldview, but the leaders of the church (as in the Middle Ages) are scared that giving people information is dangerous.
On that point at least, they happen to be right.
This is appalling to me. The theory of evolution poses no real threat to religion (as much as I wish it did). Just as you can believe that the earth is round and revolves around the sun, you can believe in evolution. I suspect that hardly anyone takes the Judaic/Christian creation story literally any more - my dad, for instance, told me when I was young (and this was controversial for me at the time) that he believed God created the earth in an instant, but that it was created with a history (whatever that means) - so it doesn't matter if there were never such people as Adam and Eve.
Evolution can easily be worked into a Christian's worldview, but the leaders of the church (as in the Middle Ages) are scared that giving people information is dangerous.
On that point at least, they happen to be right.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Another Video
This is maybe my second-favorite video. Coldplay's The Scientist. Great song, great concept for the video.
I also like their video for Fix You. The end of this song is great, and I love the return to just two or three notes. I saw them perform this in concert, and while you might not buy into Coldplay, they build up to the end perfectly, and the lead singer's dramatics are incredibly effective. (I should say that that's the only song I felt that way about; his odd movements are too distracting and false-seeming most of the time.) As my closest friends know, the songs and poems I find most effective usually use repetition, and this song is no exception. It's best listened to loud (as are most songs) and seen either in person or on a large screen, but these will have to do.
I also like their video for Fix You. The end of this song is great, and I love the return to just two or three notes. I saw them perform this in concert, and while you might not buy into Coldplay, they build up to the end perfectly, and the lead singer's dramatics are incredibly effective. (I should say that that's the only song I felt that way about; his odd movements are too distracting and false-seeming most of the time.) As my closest friends know, the songs and poems I find most effective usually use repetition, and this song is no exception. It's best listened to loud (as are most songs) and seen either in person or on a large screen, but these will have to do.
Friday, January 12, 2007
God sees you pee
The other day, as I entered the bathroom at work, another woman had just left one of the stalls - I could hear the toilet still flushing - and nearly ran into me walking out the door. She quickly thought better of leaving and went to the sink, taking a very long time to wash her hands.
Is it dirty to not wash your hands? Yes, by the time you've flushed the toilet and touched the door latch. For Science's sake, women use their hands to change tampons in there!
And guys, touching your penis when you pee is not like touching your face or some other equally unsoiled part of your body (I think some guy told me that in high school). And even if you think it is for you, it probably isn't for more than half of the male population touching the lever to flush the urinal. (If necessary, see above paragraph for rationale on washing after number two).
Wash your hands!
Is it dirty to not wash your hands? Yes, by the time you've flushed the toilet and touched the door latch. For Science's sake, women use their hands to change tampons in there!
And guys, touching your penis when you pee is not like touching your face or some other equally unsoiled part of your body (I think some guy told me that in high school). And even if you think it is for you, it probably isn't for more than half of the male population touching the lever to flush the urinal. (If necessary, see above paragraph for rationale on washing after number two).
Wash your hands!
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Best Videos of All Time
So I'm going to take a cue from Sweet Jane and copy TheCrazyDreamer's favorite videos blog. I need to start writing something more often, and as long as I don't have an original idea, I might as well blatantly steal from someone else. Plus, it's a good idea. You may not be thrilled with my choices here but I am totally unashamed.
(If the Google videos don't automatically show in their original size, I recommend changing the view by clicking the down-arrow in the bottom-left corner of the picture.)
Runners-Up
15. Ok Go's Here It Goes Again. Too good not to mention.
14. Jay-Z's 99 Problems. Good song, good video.
13. Weird Al Yankovic's White and Nerdy. I love nerds, and he has chosen some of the best things about them to put in this video.
12. My Chemical Romance's Helena. Some of it is way too cheesy, but I love the faces the lead singer makes and the poses he strikes. He gets too chubby in later videos.
11. Death Cab for Cutie's I Will Follow You Into the Dark. Not exactly what I wanted to see for this song, but still pretty good.
10. Justin Timberlake's Cry Me a River. A fun break-up song and video, even if you think he's overrated.
9. Christina Aguilera's Dirty. So sexy.
8. Yeah Yeah Yeahs Maps. I love how sincere she seems in this video.
7. Sinead O'Connor's Nothing Compares To You. Has always been a favorite.
6. Bush's Swallowed. Very 90's, but I'm a sucker for songs that do a lot of stopping and starting.
The Winners
Number 5: "Everytime" by Britney Spears
I don't know why this song never caught on, but this video is great. Cheesy in parts, yes, but I feel like it captures at least part of a truth about being someone like her.
Number 4: "At the Bottom of Everything" by Bright Eyes
Exactly embodies the spirit of the song.
Number 3: "I'm Not Okay" by My Chemical Romance
Takes me back to high school. It's incredibly full of angst. Very funny, great because it doesn't take itself too seriously. This video copies some great movies and turns them into something fun and sincere. I especially like the reference to A Clockwork Orange toward the end.
Number 2: "Move Along" by The All-American Rejects
Not that this is the best video ever, but it's my favorite right now. I think it's clever, and it doesn't hurt that the lead singer is ridiculously good-looking. My mom said she heard they call guys who look like him "emorexics," which is funny for more than one reason.
Number 1: "First Day of My Life" by Bright Eyes
By far my favorite video, and you're a heartless bastard if you don't like it, too.
Why don't my favorite bands have great music videos?
Monday, January 08, 2007
Chicago
For the first time, I thought about the reality of moving to Chicago and nearly cried here at work. Even though I can't know how lonely I'll be or how lonely my mom will be, I know we'll both feel sad sometimes knowing the other is so far away. (Sheesh, I hope no one comes by my desk.) When we eat dinner or watch tv alone, especially. (I seriously can't stop crying about this at work, so I guess I'll move on to the positive.)
Sometimes I think I don't make friends very easily. From high school, I only have one person I would call a friend (my best friend, actually), and the same applies to college. If I consider a "friend" just someone I like, then I guess I have a lot. I worry a little that I won't have any friends besides Steve in Chicago, but most of me, honestly, doesn't want to bother with friends. Anna and Chrissy and Steve are enough for me, as long as I have some kind of work or interest to occupy my time. But I'm afraid I'll feel less than whole from the places I hold in myself for my family. Even my dad, who I rarely see and will probably start seeing even less in the very near future.
No matter what, I need to move on. I've let myself stagnate lately. More than that, I've let all the negative parts of my life make me feel like stagnating is the best I can do. In college, I had so much confidence in my future, and while I haven't lost confidence in who I am, I no longer have any sense that what I am doing or will do is worthwhile. Right now, the only thing I can point to that makes me a good person is that I fill a large hole in my mom's heart. (Okay, crying again.) And although I'd like to be the kind of person who would volunteer her time and donate money and all that as tangible signs that she's a good person, that's not who I am at the moment.
Sometimes I think I don't make friends very easily. From high school, I only have one person I would call a friend (my best friend, actually), and the same applies to college. If I consider a "friend" just someone I like, then I guess I have a lot. I worry a little that I won't have any friends besides Steve in Chicago, but most of me, honestly, doesn't want to bother with friends. Anna and Chrissy and Steve are enough for me, as long as I have some kind of work or interest to occupy my time. But I'm afraid I'll feel less than whole from the places I hold in myself for my family. Even my dad, who I rarely see and will probably start seeing even less in the very near future.
No matter what, I need to move on. I've let myself stagnate lately. More than that, I've let all the negative parts of my life make me feel like stagnating is the best I can do. In college, I had so much confidence in my future, and while I haven't lost confidence in who I am, I no longer have any sense that what I am doing or will do is worthwhile. Right now, the only thing I can point to that makes me a good person is that I fill a large hole in my mom's heart. (Okay, crying again.) And although I'd like to be the kind of person who would volunteer her time and donate money and all that as tangible signs that she's a good person, that's not who I am at the moment.
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