My favorite right as an American is my ability to express myself freely without being censored, abridged, or suppressed. I dig living in a country where everything is on the table to discuss.
However, the freedom to say whatever you want does NOT give you the right to be a douche.
Tim Thomas is perfectly within his right to disagree with the Federal Government. I don't disrespect him for that. What I do disrespect him for is his lack of tact.
It was simply the wrong forum. The emphasis of the event and the President's speech was on teamwork, and Thomas is an amazing teammate. The President was honoring the Boston Bruins, not Tim Thomas, Zdeno Chara, Patrice Bergeron, et. al.
I think a better example to talk about other than the Theo Epstein comparison is the Beatles in 1965 when they were honored with the MBE medal. John Lennon didn't believe in receiving the award and ended up returning his medal as an act of protest in 1969. BUT he still went with the other lads to Buckingham Palace and thanked the Queen and enjoyed the day...with a "little help from his friends"...
But that's just the point. You're being honored as a whole, not as individuals. Take up your beefs elsewhere.
Don't get me wrong, I don't hate Thomas now. I love him. As I've said before on this blog, I live through this team and this event is no different. There have been times recently where I've refused to even be in the same room as certain people I don't like and that's pretty immature. In fact, it's wildly childish. So the next time these opportunities arise, I'm going to straighten my tie and keep my head high. No need to build walls and burn bridges.
Now let's get to the two things we should really talk about.
1) Why the hell does Obama get Campbell's number? Then again if you did 44, Seidenberg would have something to say too.
2) Start Timmy tonight. Let's beat the hell out of the Caps and go into the All Star Break at #1. GO BRUINS.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Why Tonight's Loss Gets Me Down
Sure, tonight's 3-2 loss to Tampa is our first since that awful Vancouver bout. But we've been in a slump since then. We've won, but we haven't played our best. Thomas has let in 11 goals in 3 games. Took is having a tough time too. Horton did step it up tonight with two goals. But we are not looking the way we did in the fall and early winter.
They say we live through our sport teams. I defiantly live through the Bruins, more so than any other team. Their playoff run and subsequent loss in '10 disheartened me but I knew we would be better in '11. And I knew I was gonna be better in '11. And when the Bruins won the Stanley Cup, I dedicated myself to being just like them. Dedicated to my work, brave, honest, aggressive, and confident. Every day I try to live like Claude Julien is my boss.
Lately I've been pretty depressed and side-tracked, and so have the Bruins.
But tomorrow will be better. It's the first day of the Spring Semester- a perfect metaphor for new beginnings. So I'll work hard and when I have to perform at work Saturday, the B's will perform Saturday at home against New York. And we'll both get the two points for the win.
They say we live through our sport teams. I defiantly live through the Bruins, more so than any other team. Their playoff run and subsequent loss in '10 disheartened me but I knew we would be better in '11. And I knew I was gonna be better in '11. And when the Bruins won the Stanley Cup, I dedicated myself to being just like them. Dedicated to my work, brave, honest, aggressive, and confident. Every day I try to live like Claude Julien is my boss.
Lately I've been pretty depressed and side-tracked, and so have the Bruins.
But tomorrow will be better. It's the first day of the Spring Semester- a perfect metaphor for new beginnings. So I'll work hard and when I have to perform at work Saturday, the B's will perform Saturday at home against New York. And we'll both get the two points for the win.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
I'm not used to stealing hearts
Mineral?
No.
Vegetable?
No.
Animal?
Yes!
This weekend will be the fifth time I've moved in twelve months. I'm moving to a harbor-side flat in a boat yard. It's a pirate's life for me.
Man?
NO!
Boy?
YES!
I think I'm finally coming to terms with all my mistakes last year. It's doesn't hurt as much anymore and I've done all I can to make things better. I may be a wild thing but my claws aren't as ferocious and my rawr is quieter.
Ordinary boy?
NO!
Wonderful boy?
YES!
My film will see me through. Which is a way of telling myself that I will see me through. It's the perfect life for me.
No.
Vegetable?
No.
Animal?
Yes!
This weekend will be the fifth time I've moved in twelve months. I'm moving to a harbor-side flat in a boat yard. It's a pirate's life for me.
Man?
NO!
Boy?
YES!
I think I'm finally coming to terms with all my mistakes last year. It's doesn't hurt as much anymore and I've done all I can to make things better. I may be a wild thing but my claws aren't as ferocious and my rawr is quieter.
Ordinary boy?
NO!
Wonderful boy?
YES!
My film will see me through. Which is a way of telling myself that I will see me through. It's the perfect life for me.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Mother Bobo
God bless Instant Karma at the Earth House, but I payed way too much for Zappa records in high school. Cruisin' With Ruben and the Jets cost me $45 alone. I keep the price tag on the protective sleeve as a badge of honor...of sorts.
But lately I've been practically stealing rare Zappa titles. A couple months ago it was a near mint copy of Freak Out! (original Verve inserts and all) at Looney Tunes for something like $15. Today, it was Mothermania for $9.99 at the Record Exchange. It was unpriced and the fella got the owner on the horn for a pricing. I know my poker face is pretty shitty so when he gave that price, I nearly bit my tongue off trying not to cry out in joy.
Brought it home. The vinyl has exactly two skips. One at the beginning of "Brown Shoes Don't Make It" and the beginning of "Hungry Freaks, Daddy." The latter blows because that song has such great momentum and the mix on this album is way brighter than on Freak Out! Hasn't stopped me from listening to it in its entirety twice already. It's a great album for a best of. It's the only where FZ actually picked the sequencing and some of the mixes are better than the original versions. Thus making it highly sought after.
Also saw that the cat that owned it before me had his way with the gatefold and inner groove. Even though this permanently keeps the album in only the tens of dollars, it makes it probably the most badass copy of Mothermania I've ever come across. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mother Bobo-
I'm kinda OK with this.
Side note- if I ever have a record store, I may called it Wicked Out of Print. Eventually called Wicked in due time. Even my fantasies have fantasies.
But lately I've been practically stealing rare Zappa titles. A couple months ago it was a near mint copy of Freak Out! (original Verve inserts and all) at Looney Tunes for something like $15. Today, it was Mothermania for $9.99 at the Record Exchange. It was unpriced and the fella got the owner on the horn for a pricing. I know my poker face is pretty shitty so when he gave that price, I nearly bit my tongue off trying not to cry out in joy.
Brought it home. The vinyl has exactly two skips. One at the beginning of "Brown Shoes Don't Make It" and the beginning of "Hungry Freaks, Daddy." The latter blows because that song has such great momentum and the mix on this album is way brighter than on Freak Out! Hasn't stopped me from listening to it in its entirety twice already. It's a great album for a best of. It's the only where FZ actually picked the sequencing and some of the mixes are better than the original versions. Thus making it highly sought after.
Also saw that the cat that owned it before me had his way with the gatefold and inner groove. Even though this permanently keeps the album in only the tens of dollars, it makes it probably the most badass copy of Mothermania I've ever come across. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mother Bobo-
I'm kinda OK with this.
Side note- if I ever have a record store, I may called it Wicked Out of Print. Eventually called Wicked in due time. Even my fantasies have fantasies.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Fuck 2011: Music Edition
This has been a very good year for music. Personally, I wrote the best songs of my life, my friends were making great stuff too, and a great album was never more than a month away. And this was THE year for the single LP. All the best albums were just clean-cut single LPs- no bonus tracks, no second discs, no spillage, no mess. It's kinda hard to rank em, even though there was one clear winner. So let's run down my favorites in typical romantic reductionist fashion with the old one sentence review!
Iwrestledabearonce- Ruining It For Everyone
A mature (if possible) sophomore effort while still being BATSHIT CRAZY.
The Strokes- Angles
Remember for a brief second when post-punk was cool again?
Kaputt- Destroyer
A beautiful and un-ironic tribute to slick '80s jazz.
Adele- 21
Well produced, well written, well this is gonna win a bucket of Grammys.
Tom Waits- Bad Like Me
It's like Frank's Wild Years and all his ANTI- albums had a baby.
Yuck
Yuck, this tastes great.
Frank Zappa- Feeding The Monkees at Ma Maison
Dear GZ, can I haz m0ar?
The album of the year, by and far, is The Decemberist's The King Is Dead. I think I wrote about it... The best re-issue (sorta) was The Beach Boys's The Smile Session, in ANY incarnation. Huh, I think I wrote about that too. Weird.
***
TOP FIVE SONGS OF 2011-
5) Foster The People- "Pumped Up Kicks" ...Go ahead, pretend you didn't like this.
4) We Cut Corners- "A Pirate's Life" ...Good gravy, this breaks my heart every time.
3) Okkervil River- "Mermaid" ...Another heart-breaker that deserved to stand alone from the LP.
2) The Strokes- "Under Cover of Darkness) ..."It's been five minutes since I heard it. I gotta hear it again."
and the best song of this year or ANY year....
1) BLACK JOE LEWIS AND THE HONEYBEARS- "BOOTY CITY"
Iwrestledabearonce- Ruining It For Everyone
A mature (if possible) sophomore effort while still being BATSHIT CRAZY.
The Strokes- Angles
Remember for a brief second when post-punk was cool again?
Kaputt- Destroyer
A beautiful and un-ironic tribute to slick '80s jazz.
Adele- 21
Well produced, well written, well this is gonna win a bucket of Grammys.
Tom Waits- Bad Like Me
It's like Frank's Wild Years and all his ANTI- albums had a baby.
Yuck
Yuck, this tastes great.
Frank Zappa- Feeding The Monkees at Ma Maison
Dear GZ, can I haz m0ar?
The album of the year, by and far, is The Decemberist's The King Is Dead. I think I wrote about it... The best re-issue (sorta) was The Beach Boys's The Smile Session, in ANY incarnation. Huh, I think I wrote about that too. Weird.
***
TOP FIVE SONGS OF 2011-
5) Foster The People- "Pumped Up Kicks" ...Go ahead, pretend you didn't like this.
4) We Cut Corners- "A Pirate's Life" ...Good gravy, this breaks my heart every time.
3) Okkervil River- "Mermaid" ...Another heart-breaker that deserved to stand alone from the LP.
2) The Strokes- "Under Cover of Darkness) ..."It's been five minutes since I heard it. I gotta hear it again."
and the best song of this year or ANY year....
1) BLACK JOE LEWIS AND THE HONEYBEARS- "BOOTY CITY"
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Fuck 2011: Literature Edition
It's hard to keep up with contemporary literature unless you have a great local library (which are rapidly disappearing) or are an actual paid literary critizier for fancy publications (also rapidly disappearing) or a retiree (again, disappearing). In other words, it's IMPOSSIBLE to keep up with contemporary literature because it means you do not occupy space. Actual end-of-year-best-of book lists are just conjured up by editors who count money by the "wads." So the best any Joe Blow can do when writing up a best books of 2011 for his shitty blog read mostly by spambots in Russia is to just recount the best books he read, regardless of age.
Coincidentally, here's my said list:
5) My Life by Bill Clinton
The main reason this is on my list is because I'm very proud of myself that I got through the world's longest and overly detailed memoir. It was a staggering project that the former president took on. The amount of effort he put in shows because it is a very good read. Admittedly, when the annual budgets were stuck in the Houses, (much like when they were this summer) I completely skipped them and paid no mind. Clinton is very candid and makes the scandal just as entertaining and enlightening as his accomplishments. I feel Waco deserved more than a couple pages but that was mostly Janet Reno's stupidity and I'd much rather get an enema then read any book on her.
4) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
I've been a fan of the HP since I was eleven when I read the first four books in about a month. I did the whole midnight release for the last two books, but never got around to reading the last one until this year. Seeing the first film installment was a good incentive, as was re-reading the whole series- a project I started in November of 2010. When I finally finished Deathly Hallows in February, it was like a part of my childhood was finished. I suddenly found myself living by myself in Boston and I was 20 instead of 11. Aside from the nostalgia, it was very well written, probably her best since the fifth book. I could write a whole thing on HP but there's more books to get to.
3) Tales of the Unexpected by Roald Dahl
For a guy that didn't read much of Dahl as a kid, I found this book very unexpected. Excuse me while I vomit over that horrible pun-sorta-thing. At any rate, this book was my best friend when I was down on the Falklands. It completely distracted me from being lonely or scared and kept me thinking about some bizarre shit. After reading it, I am now completely prepared if I ever try to be swindled by an antique dealing wine loving billionaire who has eyes for my daughter while my wife plots my death. Apparently that happens a lot.
2) Skeleton Crew by Stephen King
Another short story collection. This book has some of the best short stories I've ever read, specifically "Mrs. Todd's Shortcut" and "The Jaunt." Another great distraction at another horrible point in the year.
1) Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
When I finished the last few chapters on a T ride from Wonderland to Longwood Medical, I wept on the crowded car. I couldn't stop. I couldn't contain myself at all. It is simply the most beautiful book I've ever read. I forced my mom to read it too and she said it best: "He makes these unbelievable and bizarre moments so poignant."
WHERE WAS I IN MY LIFE WHEN I RE-READ CATCHER IN THE RYE THIS YEAR:
In sadly a similar situation as Holden. I ran away to the Cape without telling anyone and slept in my car for the weekend with no money to speak of. I don't really know why I did that.
Coincidentally, here's my said list:
5) My Life by Bill Clinton
The main reason this is on my list is because I'm very proud of myself that I got through the world's longest and overly detailed memoir. It was a staggering project that the former president took on. The amount of effort he put in shows because it is a very good read. Admittedly, when the annual budgets were stuck in the Houses, (much like when they were this summer) I completely skipped them and paid no mind. Clinton is very candid and makes the scandal just as entertaining and enlightening as his accomplishments. I feel Waco deserved more than a couple pages but that was mostly Janet Reno's stupidity and I'd much rather get an enema then read any book on her.
4) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
I've been a fan of the HP since I was eleven when I read the first four books in about a month. I did the whole midnight release for the last two books, but never got around to reading the last one until this year. Seeing the first film installment was a good incentive, as was re-reading the whole series- a project I started in November of 2010. When I finally finished Deathly Hallows in February, it was like a part of my childhood was finished. I suddenly found myself living by myself in Boston and I was 20 instead of 11. Aside from the nostalgia, it was very well written, probably her best since the fifth book. I could write a whole thing on HP but there's more books to get to.
3) Tales of the Unexpected by Roald Dahl
For a guy that didn't read much of Dahl as a kid, I found this book very unexpected. Excuse me while I vomit over that horrible pun-sorta-thing. At any rate, this book was my best friend when I was down on the Falklands. It completely distracted me from being lonely or scared and kept me thinking about some bizarre shit. After reading it, I am now completely prepared if I ever try to be swindled by an antique dealing wine loving billionaire who has eyes for my daughter while my wife plots my death. Apparently that happens a lot.
2) Skeleton Crew by Stephen King
Another short story collection. This book has some of the best short stories I've ever read, specifically "Mrs. Todd's Shortcut" and "The Jaunt." Another great distraction at another horrible point in the year.
1) Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
When I finished the last few chapters on a T ride from Wonderland to Longwood Medical, I wept on the crowded car. I couldn't stop. I couldn't contain myself at all. It is simply the most beautiful book I've ever read. I forced my mom to read it too and she said it best: "He makes these unbelievable and bizarre moments so poignant."
WHERE WAS I IN MY LIFE WHEN I RE-READ CATCHER IN THE RYE THIS YEAR:
In sadly a similar situation as Holden. I ran away to the Cape without telling anyone and slept in my car for the weekend with no money to speak of. I don't really know why I did that.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Obsession
I have been listening to Thing Fish non-stop. Basically every time I'm in the car which is quite a lot. Joe Delaney sent me video of the UK stage adaptation and that REALLY got me thinking. I've slowly been developing my own adaptation in my mind of this material.
However, I keep coming to the same conclusion-
Thing Fish, in any form, would be the most mind-numbing piece of entertainment on Earth. With the wrong crowd, people would go home and kill themselves because of how boring they are.
It's rough. Real rough. There's no plot and the dialog, ESPECIALLY in Act II, is probably how normal conversation transpire on Mars or Neptune.
But I'm somehow sickly dedicated to seeing it through on stage.
And I like the Old Masters remixes and the '84 touring group. I'm fucking hopeless.
However, I keep coming to the same conclusion-
Thing Fish, in any form, would be the most mind-numbing piece of entertainment on Earth. With the wrong crowd, people would go home and kill themselves because of how boring they are.
It's rough. Real rough. There's no plot and the dialog, ESPECIALLY in Act II, is probably how normal conversation transpire on Mars or Neptune.
But I'm somehow sickly dedicated to seeing it through on stage.
And I like the Old Masters remixes and the '84 touring group. I'm fucking hopeless.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)