I’m back from LA, been to my first couple classes for the term, and am ready to get back to blogging. Here’s some tidbits, things I’ve been thinking about, some links, and a song…
* One thing that drives me absolutely up the wall is the unnecessary use of quotation marks. Like when you see a sign that says we “care” about your business or something. Well, I’m in luck, because it turns out there’s a snarky blog that collects such images. Head over to The “Blog” of “Unnecessary” Quotations Marks for all that you can handle.
* Just in case anyone is wondering, I’d vote for: Rickey Henderson, Bert Blyleven, Tim Raines, Alan Trammell, Mark McGwire, and Tommy John. I wouldn’t have a huge problem with Dawson, but it’ll be pretty annoying when Rice makes it in this year.
* I made vegan spaghettios last night. The key is using lots of onions, lots of nutritional yeast, and just the smallest amount of ghost chile to give it some serious kick.
* I’m very excited about the new Springsteen album (Working on a Dream, due January 27th). That said, I’m pretty annoyed at his selling an unnecessary “new” greatest hits album and doing so exclusively through Wal-Mart. Now, I don’t quite share the absolute hatred of Wal-Mart felt by many folks on my end of the political spectrum – I can see the value in providing cheap goods for consumers who might otherwise not have a lot of options. And while I personally don’t shop there, I’m not going to get all high and mighty about it. That said, it’s not like Wal-Mart is a shining beacon for the dispossessed or anything. Even if they do offer some advantages, they clearly leverage their might to do a ton of crappy things. So, to sum up, selling your records there: fine, whatever. Making an exclusive deal with them to sell a pointless record: WTF, Boss?
* The 11th Doctor. I’m skeptical. The guy is younger than I am. And while I don’t think casting of The Doctor is something that needs to be guided by “political” considerations, it sure would have been nice to see a non-white or a woman in the role. Still, they did a great job picking Tennant, and most of the things that have irritated me about the show in the past season or so have come from Russell T Davies, who’s no longer involved, so we’ll have to wait and see before I can really pass judgment.
* I never really got into iLiKETRAiNS (in part, I have to admit, because of the stupid name), but this recent track from The Christmas Tree Ship EP is making me change my mind. It’s everything that post-rock is supposed to be: rocking you to sleep in one moment and bursting with life and energy in another.
South Shore – iLiKETRAiNS