As a long time worker of the service industry, I have worked with several chefs of varying talents and eccentricities. I have also been a long time boycotter of reality television. But reality TV has finally found my weakness: the reality of the culinary arts. The only thing that disappoints me is that those in the reality televsion business have focused strictly on chefs and ignored the rest of the service industry.
But shows like Top Chef and Iron Chef America: The Next Iron Chef, the drone-like world of reality TV has finally sucked me in. The atmosphere that is created in a kitchen is a perfect forum for a drama-laden reality show. Emotions are flowing, egos are boiling over and the expletives are flying faster than the chopping knives. Not only to you get a glimpse into the lives of chefs, who are truly their own breed, but we get to witness the creation of some the best (& worst) looking dishes some of the finest chefs in the country have to offer.
As much as I hate to be a slave to TV, most notably reality TV, shows like Top Chef and Iron Chef America keep me wanting more. The shows boil down to one main thing, the most important thing in the culinary world. Whose food reigns supreme?
Monday, December 10, 2007
Keeping Hippies Alive
Every so often, I make a pilgrimage to Half Priced Books and "splurge". I did this one Saturday afternoon a couple of weeks ago. For a mere $27, I was able to purchase 2 T.C. Boyle's (Drop City and Talk Talk), a Dostoevsky (Devils) 3 Vonnegtus and a book of shorts. Quite the steal in my opinion.
Having read Vonnegut over and over, as well as being in a rut with just reading short stories, I decided to start with "Drop City" by T.C. Boyle. I have read "Budding Prospects" by T.C. Boyle so I already knew I liked his writing style and in the midst of school, I just wasn't ready to commit to anything by Dostoevsky.
Drop City tells the story of a commune in California in 1970 that due several mishaps and government run-ins, moves to Alaska to start fresh. To really get back to nature. The book moves quickly transitioning easily from several differnt point of view characters. We see life through the eyes of Star, a girl in her early 20's embracing the ideals of the hippie movement. Pan, a friend of Star's from back home who wrestles with issues of jealousy and actually embracing the idea of brother and sisterhood. And it all couldn't happen without the "leader" of Drop City, Norm. A portly fellow who inherited a fortune and started Drop City.
The novel chronicles their lives as well the lives of several members of Drop City as they struggle with the ideals of going back to nature, full heartedly embracing brother and sisterhood all the while just trying to stay alive in the unforgiving country of Alaska.
Having read Vonnegut over and over, as well as being in a rut with just reading short stories, I decided to start with "Drop City" by T.C. Boyle. I have read "Budding Prospects" by T.C. Boyle so I already knew I liked his writing style and in the midst of school, I just wasn't ready to commit to anything by Dostoevsky.
Drop City tells the story of a commune in California in 1970 that due several mishaps and government run-ins, moves to Alaska to start fresh. To really get back to nature. The book moves quickly transitioning easily from several differnt point of view characters. We see life through the eyes of Star, a girl in her early 20's embracing the ideals of the hippie movement. Pan, a friend of Star's from back home who wrestles with issues of jealousy and actually embracing the idea of brother and sisterhood. And it all couldn't happen without the "leader" of Drop City, Norm. A portly fellow who inherited a fortune and started Drop City.
The novel chronicles their lives as well the lives of several members of Drop City as they struggle with the ideals of going back to nature, full heartedly embracing brother and sisterhood all the while just trying to stay alive in the unforgiving country of Alaska.
A Country for "No Country"
"No Country for Old Men", the gritty and sometimes disturbing adaptation of the Cormac McCarthy novel, is being heralded as one of the best films of the year. It is easy to see why. Directed by the legendary Coen brothers, this film offers unforgettable acting by an A-list: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin and Woody Harrelson. Set in southern Texas in the early 1980's, the film leaves the viewer enthralled.
For the majority of the moview, the film follows the everyday Texan Llewelyn Moss after he finds 2 million dollars at the site of a drug deal gone wrong. But with every gift of that magnitude comes a curse, and in "No Country, this curse comes in the form of Anton Chigurh. Chigurh is a ruthless, emotionless killer whose weapon of choice is a pressurized device used for killing cattle. While Chigurh hunts Moss and his money, he is being tracked by small town sheriff Ed Tom Bell who is unable to make sense of the carnage left in the wake of Chigurh.
The intentionally slow pace of the film mixed with the lack of mood-cuing music, "No Country" leaves the viewer wandering what this country is really coming to. With a brilliant attention to technical deatil by the Coen brothers and Oscar worthy performances from Josh Brolin, Tommy Lee Jones and especially Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men" is easily on the best movies in years.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
The Tradition of Friendship
As is the case with many college students, I return to my hometown over Thanksgiving break to celebrate the holidays. While in Dallas, I dropped by a few bars with some old friends of mine who I had not seen in a couple of years.
As we sat around and reminisced about old times, we also touched on the present. A few of my female friends told me that I looked really good, despite having lost about an inch to a receding hairline. They reassured me, telling me that, in combination with my glasses, the follically challenged look gives off a mature vibe.
This little holiday moment made laugh and reconsider the importance of frank friendship. — Stephen Fish
As we sat around and reminisced about old times, we also touched on the present. A few of my female friends told me that I looked really good, despite having lost about an inch to a receding hairline. They reassured me, telling me that, in combination with my glasses, the follically challenged look gives off a mature vibe.
This little holiday moment made laugh and reconsider the importance of frank friendship. — Stephen Fish
A Creative Venture
Scott Kaukenon is the award winning author of a tale of short stories, “Ordination” and is an English Professor at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX. He has an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Arizona and a PhD in Creative Writing from University of Missouri-Columbia. I got a chance to sit down and talk to him about anything from his history as a writer to the processes in obtaining a degree in Creative Writing.
I) How long have you been writing? Specifically, how long have you been
writing creatively?
It sort of depends on what you want to count as "writing." I was writing
stories in elementary school, ten-, twelve-page handwritten short stories
with central characters who looked a lot like me and who had the sort of
experiences you often find in made-for-TV movies. I recall writing, when I
was in fourth grade, about a blonde-haired ten-year-old downhill ski
champion who was in Finland trying to win the world junior downhill title
while also battling leukemia. Finland, because my family's heritage goes
back to Finland (though I've never been there). A ten-year-old with blonde
hair, because I was ten years old with blonde hair. Leukemia, because
nothing's more melodramatic for a story than a child's bravery in the face
of a deadly disease. Even at ten, I understood this.
In terms of thinking professionally about writing, I first had the inkling
to write, especially fiction, as an undergraduate, partly under the
influence of my professors at Hope College, Jack Ridl, in particular. They
introduced me really to the idea of writing as a means for thinking about
and exploring the world, of wrestling through story with the world in
which we live and all its complications. Until that point, as much as a
read as a child and as much as I enjoyed stories, I tended to see writing,
at least in a professional context, as merely a skill you needed to have
for a job--memos, cover letters, reports. I really had no idea how one
became a fiction writer.
I did spend six years after undergraduate as a sports writer in Michigan,
two years with a small local paper and then four years with the Grand
Rapids Press, a larger regional paper. The experience of writing daily, of
writing on deadline, of trying to find new ways to tell the same stories
(someone won, someone lost), of listening to people speak served as
another layer in my development as a writer.
II) Your collection of short stories "Ordination" was well received in the
writing community. Are you going to stay with the short story genre or
branch out to the novel genre?
I'm currently at work trying to finish a novel. I love the challenge of
the novel as a form, its breadth and scope, the freedom it allows, setting
so much in motion and then trying to get it to all work together in some
way. I'm sure I'll continue to write in both genres as time goes along
since each genre provides its own challenges and pleasures.
III) After receiving your Masters from the University of Arizona, what
made you to pursue your PhD in creative writing?
It was at the University of Arizona that I believe I began to find my
voice as a writer, and while in the MFA program, I'd discovered as well
that I thoroughly enjoyed teaching at the university level. But then
suddenly that brief span of 2 1/2 years was over, and I wanted to find a
way to keep doing both of those things. I taught briefly as an adjunct at
U of A, but I didn't see it as viable way of maintaining a career, and so
I began to investigate Ph.D. programs with a creative dissertation option.
It was one way of "staying in the game," as I often say, while continuing
to develop as a writer, a scholar, and a teacher, and to give myself a
chance to write those stories that would eventually find publication and
truly get my career off the ground. Mizzou provided an excellent situation
and a supportive environment for that to happen for me.
IV) What are the major differences/challenges between the process of
earning a Masters compared to the work in obtaining a PhD in creative
writing?
Well, MFA programs are distinct in many ways from Ph.D. programs. MFA
programs tend to require two to three years; Ph.D. programs four to six.
MFA programs are studio programs, generally speaking, and so the emphasis
is on the writing workshop itself with a relatively lesser emphasis on
literature and theory (though this varies greatly from program to
program). In general, the Ph.D. expects more of the writer in terms of
academic scholarship, in terms of course work in literature and theory,
and in terms of the traditional comprehensive exams. But it does vary
greatly from program to program, though fundamentally both come down to a
lot of reading and a lot of writing.
V) You teach at Sam Houston State University. Do you think your approach
to teaching your writing classes is different with a PhD than with a
Masters?
I don't know that's it different. I've written more, taught more, been
more intentional in my pedagogy since I earned the Master's, but that
reflects experience (both life and classroom experience) as much as it
reflects the degree.
I) How long have you been writing? Specifically, how long have you been
writing creatively?
It sort of depends on what you want to count as "writing." I was writing
stories in elementary school, ten-, twelve-page handwritten short stories
with central characters who looked a lot like me and who had the sort of
experiences you often find in made-for-TV movies. I recall writing, when I
was in fourth grade, about a blonde-haired ten-year-old downhill ski
champion who was in Finland trying to win the world junior downhill title
while also battling leukemia. Finland, because my family's heritage goes
back to Finland (though I've never been there). A ten-year-old with blonde
hair, because I was ten years old with blonde hair. Leukemia, because
nothing's more melodramatic for a story than a child's bravery in the face
of a deadly disease. Even at ten, I understood this.
In terms of thinking professionally about writing, I first had the inkling
to write, especially fiction, as an undergraduate, partly under the
influence of my professors at Hope College, Jack Ridl, in particular. They
introduced me really to the idea of writing as a means for thinking about
and exploring the world, of wrestling through story with the world in
which we live and all its complications. Until that point, as much as a
read as a child and as much as I enjoyed stories, I tended to see writing,
at least in a professional context, as merely a skill you needed to have
for a job--memos, cover letters, reports. I really had no idea how one
became a fiction writer.
I did spend six years after undergraduate as a sports writer in Michigan,
two years with a small local paper and then four years with the Grand
Rapids Press, a larger regional paper. The experience of writing daily, of
writing on deadline, of trying to find new ways to tell the same stories
(someone won, someone lost), of listening to people speak served as
another layer in my development as a writer.
II) Your collection of short stories "Ordination" was well received in the
writing community. Are you going to stay with the short story genre or
branch out to the novel genre?
I'm currently at work trying to finish a novel. I love the challenge of
the novel as a form, its breadth and scope, the freedom it allows, setting
so much in motion and then trying to get it to all work together in some
way. I'm sure I'll continue to write in both genres as time goes along
since each genre provides its own challenges and pleasures.
III) After receiving your Masters from the University of Arizona, what
made you to pursue your PhD in creative writing?
It was at the University of Arizona that I believe I began to find my
voice as a writer, and while in the MFA program, I'd discovered as well
that I thoroughly enjoyed teaching at the university level. But then
suddenly that brief span of 2 1/2 years was over, and I wanted to find a
way to keep doing both of those things. I taught briefly as an adjunct at
U of A, but I didn't see it as viable way of maintaining a career, and so
I began to investigate Ph.D. programs with a creative dissertation option.
It was one way of "staying in the game," as I often say, while continuing
to develop as a writer, a scholar, and a teacher, and to give myself a
chance to write those stories that would eventually find publication and
truly get my career off the ground. Mizzou provided an excellent situation
and a supportive environment for that to happen for me.
IV) What are the major differences/challenges between the process of
earning a Masters compared to the work in obtaining a PhD in creative
writing?
Well, MFA programs are distinct in many ways from Ph.D. programs. MFA
programs tend to require two to three years; Ph.D. programs four to six.
MFA programs are studio programs, generally speaking, and so the emphasis
is on the writing workshop itself with a relatively lesser emphasis on
literature and theory (though this varies greatly from program to
program). In general, the Ph.D. expects more of the writer in terms of
academic scholarship, in terms of course work in literature and theory,
and in terms of the traditional comprehensive exams. But it does vary
greatly from program to program, though fundamentally both come down to a
lot of reading and a lot of writing.
V) You teach at Sam Houston State University. Do you think your approach
to teaching your writing classes is different with a PhD than with a
Masters?
I don't know that's it different. I've written more, taught more, been
more intentional in my pedagogy since I earned the Master's, but that
reflects experience (both life and classroom experience) as much as it
reflects the degree.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
TO and Touchdowns
Wow. The Cowboys remain undefeated in divison play as they beat the Washington Redskins in a nail-biter (twenty-eight to twenty-three). The only loss, out of ten games, has come at the hands of the (undefeated) New England Patriots.
In today's game against the Redskins, Tony Romo and Terrell Owens connected on 4 occasions for touchdowns as Terrell Owens passed receiver Marvin Harrison for most career touchdowns with One Hundred and Twenty-Five. At the same time, he broke into the top ten all-time reveiing yards of all time.
If Tony Romo, Terrell Owens and the rest of the Cowboys keep this up, the rest of the NFL is going to have a difficult time keeping the Cowboys from the Super Bowl.
In today's game against the Redskins, Tony Romo and Terrell Owens connected on 4 occasions for touchdowns as Terrell Owens passed receiver Marvin Harrison for most career touchdowns with One Hundred and Twenty-Five. At the same time, he broke into the top ten all-time reveiing yards of all time.
If Tony Romo, Terrell Owens and the rest of the Cowboys keep this up, the rest of the NFL is going to have a difficult time keeping the Cowboys from the Super Bowl.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
zappa plays kinda
Review: Zappa Plays Zappa
By Stephen Fish | Wednesday, November 14, 2007, 05:59 PM
I thought it was odd that a concert promising so much energy was playing at Hogg Auditorium on UT’s campus, a sit-down venue with hardly any room for standing, let alone dancing. But just as I thought this, Dweezil Zappa and company took the stage; Zappa announced that the Tuesday night show would be filmed for a Zappa Plays Zappa DVD. This seemed to rally the crowd, who stood up and cheered as the first notes left the speakers.
After the first two songs I was impressed with the succinct sound, especially considering the variation of instruments on stage: gongs, xylophones, trumpets and saxophones, along with the usual guitar, bass, drums and keyboard. The backdrop to the second song was live footage of Frank Zappa in his prime, while Dweezil and the band filled in the blanks. The third song was a tribute to Austin, coming from the album “Bongo Furry,” which Frank recorded in Austin.
Dweezil and the rest of the musicians played for nearly three and a half hours and at times the music stalled. Guitar solos tended to drag on, leaving the rest of the band with little to contribute. But then Dweezil and company would bring the crowd back with ballads like “Quaalude Thunderclap,” a technical but emotionally charged song.
Midway through the concert, the band asked the audience for random phrases and special guest guitarist/vocalist Ray White went backstage and wrote a song with the offerings. The band performed the song through the vessels of jazz, then gospel and then finally in the form of an ’80s rock hyper ballad, showing the band’s range and diversity.
Dweezil has done a good job of mastering the technical art of his father’s music and I was surprised by how much emotion the music evoked. Frank’s music has been compared to a modern orchestra, and the band on Tuesday demonstrated its mastery of this “orchestration.” As the concert came to an end, the crowd members rose from their seats and began to dance, some making their way to the front of the stage. As the final notes played, Dweezil leaned into the microphone and uttered his father’s famous sign-off, “Goodnight Austin, wherever you are.”
By Stephen Fish | Wednesday, November 14, 2007, 05:59 PM
I thought it was odd that a concert promising so much energy was playing at Hogg Auditorium on UT’s campus, a sit-down venue with hardly any room for standing, let alone dancing. But just as I thought this, Dweezil Zappa and company took the stage; Zappa announced that the Tuesday night show would be filmed for a Zappa Plays Zappa DVD. This seemed to rally the crowd, who stood up and cheered as the first notes left the speakers.
After the first two songs I was impressed with the succinct sound, especially considering the variation of instruments on stage: gongs, xylophones, trumpets and saxophones, along with the usual guitar, bass, drums and keyboard. The backdrop to the second song was live footage of Frank Zappa in his prime, while Dweezil and the band filled in the blanks. The third song was a tribute to Austin, coming from the album “Bongo Furry,” which Frank recorded in Austin.
Dweezil and the rest of the musicians played for nearly three and a half hours and at times the music stalled. Guitar solos tended to drag on, leaving the rest of the band with little to contribute. But then Dweezil and company would bring the crowd back with ballads like “Quaalude Thunderclap,” a technical but emotionally charged song.
Midway through the concert, the band asked the audience for random phrases and special guest guitarist/vocalist Ray White went backstage and wrote a song with the offerings. The band performed the song through the vessels of jazz, then gospel and then finally in the form of an ’80s rock hyper ballad, showing the band’s range and diversity.
Dweezil has done a good job of mastering the technical art of his father’s music and I was surprised by how much emotion the music evoked. Frank’s music has been compared to a modern orchestra, and the band on Tuesday demonstrated its mastery of this “orchestration.” As the concert came to an end, the crowd members rose from their seats and began to dance, some making their way to the front of the stage. As the final notes played, Dweezil leaned into the microphone and uttered his father’s famous sign-off, “Goodnight Austin, wherever you are.”
Sunday, November 11, 2007
ZAPPA
Talking with Dweezil about Zappa Plays Zappa
By Stephen A. Fish | Friday, November 9, 2007, 05:29 PM
Dweezil Zappa is on the road with “Zappa Plays Zappa,” his way to keep the musical legacy of his father, Frank Zappa, alive. He’ll play Tuesday in Austin (details here), along with Steve Vai, Napoleon Murphy Brock, Terry Bozzio and other musicians. We talked with Zappa about what Austin means to him, his expectations for the Austin show and his experiences playing his father’s music:
American-Statesman: Have you been to Austin?
Zappa: I’ve actually been to Austin several times for several different reasons. I recorded music with Eric Johnson at one point; I’ve been down there to play golf. It’s a great city to visit.
Did anything about Austin stand out to you?
The feel that Austin has to it is like no other. The food, the little river scene; I actually dated a girl whose family owned a boat on the river, and anyone who has had the privilege of going out there is lucky.
What are your expectations about playing ‘Zappa Plays Zappa’ in Austin? I know you guys didn’t play here last year.
Yeah, last year we played Dallas and Houston, and I think the real difference about Austin is that Frank has folklore-related times in Austin. His album “Bongo Furry” was actually recorded in Austin and makes references to the Guacamole Queen. It is also where the term “Good night Austin, wherever you are” was born.
What has been your favorite venue to play and why?
To me, the crowd is the aspect of the show that is always most memorable. One venue we played up in Montreal, the Metropolis, is the most memorable venue I’ve played. The place is set up so the entire crowd can see the stage and for some reason, the sound in there is amplified so that it sounds like twice as many people, and the place seems twice as big.
How difficult has it been to adjust your playing style to suit the needs of Frank’s music?
His music is very sophisticated. He played things on the guitar that were never meant to be played, and I had to sit down for two years to learn his style of playing. I had to make drastic changes in my stylistic approach to accommodate to his playing, especially in the technical sense. I have been playing guitar for 26 years now, and I think that learning his music is something most guitarists would give up on because they are so set in their way of playing. I would play one passage for six or seven hours a day, a passage that would only last a second during a song, and my wife would go crazy hearing me play the same passage over and over and over and over.
Whatever happened to the Hendrix guitar you restored?
I actually have it sitting in a corner in my home.
Do you ever play it?
I do, but not that frequently. I’ve actually considered selling it a few times. It’s a very valuable guitar, and I just know some lunatic with dot-com money would love to have it at the center of their home or studio.
How do you think the younger generation has accepted your father’s music, and in turn, your performance of his music?
I do not think that the younger generation, ages 14-25, has a great deal of exposure to Frank’s music. That is what I am trying to target and expose to a generation unfamiliar with his music. Frank has a quote, from the early ’80s, “Music has become wallpaper for your lifestyle.” Many people live their lives according to the music they listen to, especially younger kids. They are more content with watching their music or getting it for free, which takes away from the artistic integrity and merit of music. Kids these days are used to one-hit wonders, bands that if they have the right tattoos, bounce around and know how to play a 2-4 are becoming radio sensations. Radio music is too formulaic; it doesn’t take chances. And with Frank’s music, I am trying to show a generation of kids music that no one ever thought was possible.
By Stephen A. Fish | Friday, November 9, 2007, 05:29 PM
Dweezil Zappa is on the road with “Zappa Plays Zappa,” his way to keep the musical legacy of his father, Frank Zappa, alive. He’ll play Tuesday in Austin (details here), along with Steve Vai, Napoleon Murphy Brock, Terry Bozzio and other musicians. We talked with Zappa about what Austin means to him, his expectations for the Austin show and his experiences playing his father’s music:
American-Statesman: Have you been to Austin?
Zappa: I’ve actually been to Austin several times for several different reasons. I recorded music with Eric Johnson at one point; I’ve been down there to play golf. It’s a great city to visit.
Did anything about Austin stand out to you?
The feel that Austin has to it is like no other. The food, the little river scene; I actually dated a girl whose family owned a boat on the river, and anyone who has had the privilege of going out there is lucky.
What are your expectations about playing ‘Zappa Plays Zappa’ in Austin? I know you guys didn’t play here last year.
Yeah, last year we played Dallas and Houston, and I think the real difference about Austin is that Frank has folklore-related times in Austin. His album “Bongo Furry” was actually recorded in Austin and makes references to the Guacamole Queen. It is also where the term “Good night Austin, wherever you are” was born.
What has been your favorite venue to play and why?
To me, the crowd is the aspect of the show that is always most memorable. One venue we played up in Montreal, the Metropolis, is the most memorable venue I’ve played. The place is set up so the entire crowd can see the stage and for some reason, the sound in there is amplified so that it sounds like twice as many people, and the place seems twice as big.
How difficult has it been to adjust your playing style to suit the needs of Frank’s music?
His music is very sophisticated. He played things on the guitar that were never meant to be played, and I had to sit down for two years to learn his style of playing. I had to make drastic changes in my stylistic approach to accommodate to his playing, especially in the technical sense. I have been playing guitar for 26 years now, and I think that learning his music is something most guitarists would give up on because they are so set in their way of playing. I would play one passage for six or seven hours a day, a passage that would only last a second during a song, and my wife would go crazy hearing me play the same passage over and over and over and over.
Whatever happened to the Hendrix guitar you restored?
I actually have it sitting in a corner in my home.
Do you ever play it?
I do, but not that frequently. I’ve actually considered selling it a few times. It’s a very valuable guitar, and I just know some lunatic with dot-com money would love to have it at the center of their home or studio.
How do you think the younger generation has accepted your father’s music, and in turn, your performance of his music?
I do not think that the younger generation, ages 14-25, has a great deal of exposure to Frank’s music. That is what I am trying to target and expose to a generation unfamiliar with his music. Frank has a quote, from the early ’80s, “Music has become wallpaper for your lifestyle.” Many people live their lives according to the music they listen to, especially younger kids. They are more content with watching their music or getting it for free, which takes away from the artistic integrity and merit of music. Kids these days are used to one-hit wonders, bands that if they have the right tattoos, bounce around and know how to play a 2-4 are becoming radio sensations. Radio music is too formulaic; it doesn’t take chances. And with Frank’s music, I am trying to show a generation of kids music that no one ever thought was possible.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
A Galactic Halloween
For three of the past four years, the New Orleans based jazz-funk-jam group Galactic has played a Halloween concert at Stubb's. I have been to all three of these and each time the group brings a new dynamic and the crowds seem to do the same.
This year, Charlie Tuna of Jurassic 5 and Mr. Lif, two well-known hip-hop artists, joined Galactic on stage for most of the concert and brought a whole new expereince to their annual Halloween show. The mixing of the two musical styles made for an eclectic crowd with audience members who had no idea who Galactic was or who Charlie Tuna and Mr. Lif were. The musicians struck an alomst perfect harmony together that had the entire crowd moving, screaming and begging for more the entire show.
The costumes, of course, were another highlight of the show. Each year, they have a Halloween costume contest where the winner is given a $500 prize. Typically, the contest is held at set break but this year it came before the concert so I missed the winner. But in the audience I caught a glimpse of some great costumes: Vincent Vega, a group going as Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach and a sad emo kid (yours truly) were some of the costume hightligts of the night.
The show was right on par and the audience did there best to behave themselves amidst the excitement of the evening. I look forward to repeating this now Austin tradtion next Halloween and would recommend it to anyone who is willing to pay $20 for a night of constant entertainment: be it the music, the costumes or the overall enthusiasm of the crowd.
This year, Charlie Tuna of Jurassic 5 and Mr. Lif, two well-known hip-hop artists, joined Galactic on stage for most of the concert and brought a whole new expereince to their annual Halloween show. The mixing of the two musical styles made for an eclectic crowd with audience members who had no idea who Galactic was or who Charlie Tuna and Mr. Lif were. The musicians struck an alomst perfect harmony together that had the entire crowd moving, screaming and begging for more the entire show.
The costumes, of course, were another highlight of the show. Each year, they have a Halloween costume contest where the winner is given a $500 prize. Typically, the contest is held at set break but this year it came before the concert so I missed the winner. But in the audience I caught a glimpse of some great costumes: Vincent Vega, a group going as Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach and a sad emo kid (yours truly) were some of the costume hightligts of the night.
The show was right on par and the audience did there best to behave themselves amidst the excitement of the evening. I look forward to repeating this now Austin tradtion next Halloween and would recommend it to anyone who is willing to pay $20 for a night of constant entertainment: be it the music, the costumes or the overall enthusiasm of the crowd.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
A Poem
Nesta: Prophet of Nine Miles
By Stephen Fish
As WWII came to an end, a prophet was born
To a modest beginning in Nine Miles
Like many of his kind, success did not come easy
But perseverance did come naturally.
It was 1971, and you could hear “Slow Hand”
Playing ‘I Shot the Sheriff’, instant fame.
After that came record after record and
Then the sacred cover of Rolling Stones
Smile Jamaica, or not, Bob has been shot
But Jah protects and he finishes the show.
The bullets tried but could not stop him;
It was nature’s turn, a turn for the worse
Started in his toe, then upward to the liver
But did not stop their, it wanted the brain.
The show must go on, and it did
As he played now, inspired by life.
He would not stop for the illness,
But for Rita he would cease.
36, so many prophets die young
but the message lives on:
We don’t need no trouble
What we need is love!
By Stephen Fish
As WWII came to an end, a prophet was born
To a modest beginning in Nine Miles
Like many of his kind, success did not come easy
But perseverance did come naturally.
It was 1971, and you could hear “Slow Hand”
Playing ‘I Shot the Sheriff’, instant fame.
After that came record after record and
Then the sacred cover of Rolling Stones
Smile Jamaica, or not, Bob has been shot
But Jah protects and he finishes the show.
The bullets tried but could not stop him;
It was nature’s turn, a turn for the worse
Started in his toe, then upward to the liver
But did not stop their, it wanted the brain.
The show must go on, and it did
As he played now, inspired by life.
He would not stop for the illness,
But for Rita he would cease.
36, so many prophets die young
but the message lives on:
We don’t need no trouble
What we need is love!
Why Nalgenes Rule
1. Nalgene is just a cool word to say, Nalgene
2. They hold more H20 (32 oz.) than most water bottles
3. They save plastic
4. If you feel obliged, you may decorate your Nalgene (typically with stickers)
5. They are relatively inexpenisve, typically between 5 and 10 $'s
6. They save plastic
7. They come in all differnent colors, shapes and sizes (like people)
8. They are handy for a hike, and a hot day by the pool
9. They save plastic
-- My quesiton, where do the boundries of poetry begin and end
2. They hold more H20 (32 oz.) than most water bottles
3. They save plastic
4. If you feel obliged, you may decorate your Nalgene (typically with stickers)
5. They are relatively inexpenisve, typically between 5 and 10 $'s
6. They save plastic
7. They come in all differnent colors, shapes and sizes (like people)
8. They are handy for a hike, and a hot day by the pool
9. They save plastic
-- My quesiton, where do the boundries of poetry begin and end
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Ode to the Cold
It's late October now and finally my sweating ends. I just wanted to thank the cold weather for finally coming and relieving me of the blistering Texas sun that mocks all summer. And now, an ode
Cold weather may not always seem right
But God I love a good cigarette
on a cold night
Farwell to the pool and the tan as well
But if it is Hot, keep it in Hell
Sorry if you read that, I am easily bored and I really do enjoy the cold weather
Cold weather may not always seem right
But God I love a good cigarette
on a cold night
Farwell to the pool and the tan as well
But if it is Hot, keep it in Hell
Sorry if you read that, I am easily bored and I really do enjoy the cold weather
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Lars and the Real
One of the first scenes of the movie has Lars (Ryan Gosling) introducing his new girlfriend Bianca to his brother and sister-in-law. Typical beginning of a movie scene, right? The catch here is that Bianca is a plastic sex doll in a wheelchair that Lars bought over the Internet. “Lars and the Real Girl” strikes an unexpected chord between two themes that most people would not associate together: love and mental illness.
Ryan Gosling plays a convincing delusional with continuous awkward moments (not necessarily consisting of him talking to his plastic girlfriend) to go along with his quirks: constant blinking and clumsy fumbling. As his brother and sister-in-law grow gradually more concerned with Lars’ mental health, they enlist the help of the towns local doctor and psychologist.
As hard as it is for his family to accept, Dr. Dagmar (Patricia Clarkson) urges them to go along with Lars’ fantasy. Next to follow is the acceptance of Bianca by the community. The scenes here are both touching and funny at the same time. The community goes along with Lars’ delusion by having her volunteer at a kindergarten as well as giving her a part-time job at the town boutique. Writer Nancy Oliver (“Six Feet Under”) has a clear understanding of the importance of family and community which shines through out the movie. Unfortunately, this becomes problematic as the movie draws to a close.
Lars’ delusional state and quirky behavior are a given but after that, viewers really never really get to know the character. During sessions with Dr. Dagmar, we learn the reasons behind his emotional state: the pregnancy of this sister-in-law, the death of his mother during his pregnancy, but we never get to know Lars. However; we do get to know Gus (Lars’ brother) and Karin (his sister-in-law) as they struggle with guilt, frustration and Lars’ delusion.
Lars’ character is not the only part section of the movie that is underdeveloped. A love-Lorne co-worker, Margo, constantly flirts with Lars. As the movie progresses, their relationship begins to take shape but after a few fleeting scenes between Lars and Margo, the movie comes to an end and leaves the relationship in limbo.
While certain characters and relationships in the movie go undeveloped, the film is an overall success. Director Craig Gillespie refrains from crude humor and inappropriate sex scenes (involving dolls) to make a light-hearted comedy. The balance struck between humor and heartache is a rare find today in the world of cinema, but “Lars and the Real Girl” will make you laugh and think, especially outside of the box.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Writers meeting Writers
This year, St. Edward's has introduced a new program: "The Visting Writers Series". The series was put together by St. Edward's very own Doug Dorst, professor of creative writing and Dr. Alan Altimont. These two professors are well connected in the writing community nationwide and so far have had two very successful readings here at St. Ed's.
Last Tuesday, St. Edward's welcomed a pair of writers, who are acutally a couple, to come read from their new series of short stories. Edward Schwarzschild and Elisa Albert both read with confidence and poise while not taking themselves too seriously. The room was mostly filled with fellow English Writing majors as well as professors of English Writing and Literature. The reading was a little over an hour with a Q & A at the end which everyone seemed to enjoy.
I encourage anyone who is intersted in writing or literature to start attending these events. It is a great way to learn about new authors and the various tehniques each one uses when they are beginning a story, brainstorming or in the process of writing a story. So far, the authors that have come this year have been easily approchable and more than willing to answer any questions you may have. So check the flyers and posters around campus for upcoming events of the "Visiting Writers Series" or, ask yours truly.
Last Tuesday, St. Edward's welcomed a pair of writers, who are acutally a couple, to come read from their new series of short stories. Edward Schwarzschild and Elisa Albert both read with confidence and poise while not taking themselves too seriously. The room was mostly filled with fellow English Writing majors as well as professors of English Writing and Literature. The reading was a little over an hour with a Q & A at the end which everyone seemed to enjoy.
I encourage anyone who is intersted in writing or literature to start attending these events. It is a great way to learn about new authors and the various tehniques each one uses when they are beginning a story, brainstorming or in the process of writing a story. So far, the authors that have come this year have been easily approchable and more than willing to answer any questions you may have. So check the flyers and posters around campus for upcoming events of the "Visiting Writers Series" or, ask yours truly.
Never Thought I'd Blog about Shoes
The ever changing world of fashion tends have me feeling left in the dust. I go shopping maybe once a year and that's about it. I wear a different variation of the same outfit pretty much every day. Pants or shorts, a t-shirt, and shoes. But for me, the cornerstone of my outfit are always the shoes.
I was never "sneakerhead", a phrase coined for and by people who collect different pairs of sneakers, usually by the same brand. But one day, a good friend of mine who had moved to Austin without knowing anyone, gave me a pair of rather expensive, rather rare Nike SB Team editions. I was hooked from then on. While I only have 2 paris of "edition" Nikes (editions range from Team, Jordan, Airmax etc.) I will keep on collecting whenever I have the money to spare.
I am in the process of customizing my onw Nike's right now and as soon as I have the $130 that I need to obtain these footwear gems, I will be walking around in customized style. If a customized pair of shoes whether athletic or casual is something you are interested in, just visit Nike.com and let your imagination fly.
I was never "sneakerhead", a phrase coined for and by people who collect different pairs of sneakers, usually by the same brand. But one day, a good friend of mine who had moved to Austin without knowing anyone, gave me a pair of rather expensive, rather rare Nike SB Team editions. I was hooked from then on. While I only have 2 paris of "edition" Nikes (editions range from Team, Jordan, Airmax etc.) I will keep on collecting whenever I have the money to spare.
I am in the process of customizing my onw Nike's right now and as soon as I have the $130 that I need to obtain these footwear gems, I will be walking around in customized style. If a customized pair of shoes whether athletic or casual is something you are interested in, just visit Nike.com and let your imagination fly.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
When Atmosphere and Food Converge, Look for the Star
As you walk around the warehouse district of downtown Austin, the majority of the establishments: bars, clubs, and restaurants have a tendency to be uber-intense with bright, eye-catching signs and loud bass-thumping house music. But as you walk up Colorado Street, at the corner of 4th, a very unassuming downtown haunt awaits patrons looking for a hearty meal and a downtown time.
Starlite, whose location changed from a cozy 34th Street hideout to a downtown staple, offers a wide selection of food and drinks. It also provides a multi-layer atmosphere that most downtown hangouts lack. When you first walk in, you are met with a wood-finished bar and mellow beats chosen by the bartender. (The music ranges anywhere from Rat A Tat to Elton John). If drinks are not on your mind, there is an eclectically decorated dining room where restaurant goers can enjoy a scrumptious meal for a moderate downtown price. If the main dining room is not intimate enough for the casual diner, there is a private dining area that can accommodate a couple or a party of twenty-five. Finally, if three choices cannot satisfy, there is an upstairs lounge with a bar, leather couches and chairs, and more seating for food.
A close friend of mine celebrated her birthday a few weeks back but due to school and work, I was unable to make it to her birthday shindig. Feeling guilty about this, I offered to take her out for drinks when we both had the time. She grudgingly accepted.
So when the time came around, I suggested we go to Starlite for their happy hour (4-7 pm on weekdays) and she politely accepted my offer. After our experience, she told me she was delighted that I had suggested Starlite, because I had taken a mutual friend of ours their earlier this year (for the exact same reason). We got to the bar and started off with cocktails: she ordered a Starlite Highball (Bombay Sapphire, Soda, Seven and Bitters) which I neglected to try while I went with the New York Ginger (Makers Mark, Sweet Vermouth, Bitters and Ginger Ale). The New York Ginger balanced sweet and bitter to perfection.
After a cocktail or two, we decided some few might be a good idea. Being a veteran to Starlite, my friend kept pressing me into making the menu decisions which I reluctantly accepted. We started off with their signature salad, warm spinach beneath a base of roasted Yukon potatoes, topped with cambozola cheese and a warm bacon vinaigrette. We followed this wonderfully rounded salad with a delectable wild mushroom and black truffle risotto. The creamy texture of the risotto was only topped by the balance struck between the earthy mushrooms and the sweetness of the fennel. We finished the occasion with a roasted organic chicken half, encrusted with rosemary and thyme and marinated in olive oil, on top of red bliss potatoes and gorgonzola grits. We accompanied this with a rich bottle of ’04 Domaine Montpertius from the Rhone region of France.
The combination of a laid back atmosphere and knock-out food left us wanting more. Luckily for us, executive chef Josh Hines updates his menus with the seasons, so that Starlite patrons never have a stagnant menu.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Thursdays and White Wings
The Tavern is one of the oldest establishments that Austin has to offer both patrons and visitors alike. Located at 12th and Lamar, this historic Austin eatery and bar (which apparently has ties to groceries and prostitution) has become one of Austin's #1 sports bars.
While I am not the biggest sports fan, and not really a fan of downtown Austin bars, I go there every Thursday with a core unit of friends, vegeatarians and carnivores alike, and enjoy the specials. These Thursday specials include .40 cent White Wings (small pieces of chicken stuffed with jalepenos, wrapped in bacon, and then cooked to perfection in wing sauce) which our table usually eats until physical sickness is a mere bite away as well as $1.50 off pitchers to help sooth the heat of the wings.
We try to ignore the typically frat-tastic clientele that shout and slosh around us and sit back and enjoy the good food, drinks and company. Although the draw for most of us on Thursday night is the dirt cheap wings, there are always a few herbivores at the table that just like the social atmosphere that the Tavern provides. Whether or not you are a sports fan, a foodie (well maybe not a foodie) or a fan of good drinks, the Tavern provides a place for people to enjoy themselves. And at the heart of Austin, isn't that what this city is all about?
While I am not the biggest sports fan, and not really a fan of downtown Austin bars, I go there every Thursday with a core unit of friends, vegeatarians and carnivores alike, and enjoy the specials. These Thursday specials include .40 cent White Wings (small pieces of chicken stuffed with jalepenos, wrapped in bacon, and then cooked to perfection in wing sauce) which our table usually eats until physical sickness is a mere bite away as well as $1.50 off pitchers to help sooth the heat of the wings.
We try to ignore the typically frat-tastic clientele that shout and slosh around us and sit back and enjoy the good food, drinks and company. Although the draw for most of us on Thursday night is the dirt cheap wings, there are always a few herbivores at the table that just like the social atmosphere that the Tavern provides. Whether or not you are a sports fan, a foodie (well maybe not a foodie) or a fan of good drinks, the Tavern provides a place for people to enjoy themselves. And at the heart of Austin, isn't that what this city is all about?
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Can books change lives?
Before about a year ago, I strictly read novels, typically Isabelle Allende or Gabriel Garcia Marquez, not allowing anything of the non-fiction variety into my repertoire. However; after a chance encounter with a free book I snagged at the Scarborough-Phillips Library annual book-giveaway, I had to broaden my reading genre horizons. "A Gradual Awakening", by Steve Levine, opened my doors to books dealing with religion. This particular book deals with the powers of meditation and never directly infers a specifc religions meditational standards.
This finding lead me to the wry, no-holds-bars writing style of Christopher Hitchens, a stoically firm believer in atheism. The first, and so far, only book I have read by is "God is not Great", a book that challenges the history and actions of all religious institutions. I can say, for an almost certainty, that I learned more about religion as a whole in his book than 10 years of parochial schools have provided me.
While I am still a fiction fanatic, these two non-fictions on religion, in completely different manners, have had a great impact on the way I think and feel about much of what is happening around me. I would say to anyone that finds themselves believing that have all the answers, or least enough to suffice them for the rest of their days, needs to do more searching. And religious texts of any sort can provide.
This finding lead me to the wry, no-holds-bars writing style of Christopher Hitchens, a stoically firm believer in atheism. The first, and so far, only book I have read by is "God is not Great", a book that challenges the history and actions of all religious institutions. I can say, for an almost certainty, that I learned more about religion as a whole in his book than 10 years of parochial schools have provided me.
While I am still a fiction fanatic, these two non-fictions on religion, in completely different manners, have had a great impact on the way I think and feel about much of what is happening around me. I would say to anyone that finds themselves believing that have all the answers, or least enough to suffice them for the rest of their days, needs to do more searching. And religious texts of any sort can provide.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Blogging Etiquette
As a new and upcoming blogger, I have taken an interest in blogs that my friends have created. This leads me to the point of my current blog. I know that blogs are casual and not necessarily subject to the normal rules and regulations of writing. But there is a certain etiquette which needs to be taken into account with reading, reviewing or critiquing someone else’s writing, be it in the intense context of workshop or the laid-back environment that a blog allows.
Interlude.
A close friend of mine is spending the semester studying in the magnificent, rustic town of Florence. To enable her to show all of her friends what’s going on in her life across the big pond and also to stay in contact, she started a blog that basically consists of her day to day events in Italy. Recently, she visited a food festival in Florence and created a post on her blog that explained and showed her and 2 friends eating large, Danish pretzels (these pretzels dwarf the normal human head, no joke, picture available).
In response to her latest entry, this is what the oh-so-clever pen name “anonymous” wrote:
Anonymous said...
You're a couple of porkers eating 3 BIG pretzels. Keep it up!!!!! You'll look like a GIGANTIC pretzel soon.
YOUR WEIGHT-WATCHER,
I would like to take this opportunity to say that everyone, no matter what the writing context is, should respect each other. And the nerve that this character had to write under “anonymous” really gets my goat. For all of you that have sat through my rant, I thank you and hope that, even if you are not a guilty party, take this nugget of respect to heart.
Interlude.
A close friend of mine is spending the semester studying in the magnificent, rustic town of Florence. To enable her to show all of her friends what’s going on in her life across the big pond and also to stay in contact, she started a blog that basically consists of her day to day events in Italy. Recently, she visited a food festival in Florence and created a post on her blog that explained and showed her and 2 friends eating large, Danish pretzels (these pretzels dwarf the normal human head, no joke, picture available).
In response to her latest entry, this is what the oh-so-clever pen name “anonymous” wrote:
Anonymous said...
You're a couple of porkers eating 3 BIG pretzels. Keep it up!!!!! You'll look like a GIGANTIC pretzel soon.
YOUR WEIGHT-WATCHER,
I would like to take this opportunity to say that everyone, no matter what the writing context is, should respect each other. And the nerve that this character had to write under “anonymous” really gets my goat. For all of you that have sat through my rant, I thank you and hope that, even if you are not a guilty party, take this nugget of respect to heart.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Another Violent Affair
“Eastern Promises” reunites the graphic, gritty directing style of David Cronenberg with the dynamic acting of Viggo Mortenson. They first worked together on the film “A History of Violence”, a film focused on a family man trying desperately to escape his violent past. Both films feature character-driven plots with much less violence than one would expect by going on the title alone, but the brutality and bloodshed that ensues makes a lasting impression.
Viggo Mortenson plays Nikolai, the toughened chauffeur to mob boss Semyon and his son who pushes his actions to excess. While Mortenson’s title is “chauffeur”, he often ends up as baby-sitter to Semyon’s son, Kirill, who constantly tests the boundaries afforded to him as Semyon’s heir. From his tattooed frame and constant cool, we get a feel that there is much more to the quiet-speaking Nikolai than one would infer from the title of chauffeur.
The story unfolds as Naomi Watts, an innocent mid-wife, stumbles upon the diary of a young Russian prostitute in London. As she searches for answers behind the diary, she unknowingly intertwines herself into the devious underworld of London’s Russian mafia. It is through her naïve questioning and unflinching search for the truth that she encounters Semyon and more importantly, Nikolai.
Semyon plays the role of mob kingpin disturbingly well with a cool, laid back demeanor but as Anna (Naomi Watts’ character) inches closer to the truth, we begin to see Semyon lose his composed manner. While Semyon slowly loses his calm with the ever-pestering Anna, Nikolai keeps his nonchalant gangster disposition throughout the movie. He displays his ever composed character during scenes that would break most characters: Kirill forces him to have sex with an underage prostitute while later in the movie it has him in a bath house scene knife fighting two thugs in the nude.
Cronenberg exercises great restraint and balance in this movie by using graphic scenes of violence (the movie’s very first scene has a Mafioso sawing into a characters throat with methodical precision) while keeping the movie focused on the emotional plight of the characters. I think a lot of directors would automatically feel the need to emphasize the violent nature of a mob movie with surplus killings and gratuitous violence. Cronenberg’s message of violence is clear: a few graphic scenes have the ability to portray violence just as much, if not more, than numerous scenes of carnage.
The film has an authentic feel to it that comes from how much time was spent on the different aspects of the movie. All the characters, especially Mortenson’s Nikolai, have their Russian speech and accents nailed solid. Cronenberg also does well by keeping the mood of the movie, gloomy and intense, through the ominous backdrop of dreary London.
Another high point was the subject matter. Countless mafia movies come out every decade but almost all of them are centered around the Cosa Nostra (Sicilian mob) but writer Steve Knight chose the little written about (at least in Hollywood) Russian mafia. I thought that the movie worked well on every level, writing, directing and acting, a hard goal to accomplish these days in the hubbub of Hollywood.
Viggo Mortenson plays Nikolai, the toughened chauffeur to mob boss Semyon and his son who pushes his actions to excess. While Mortenson’s title is “chauffeur”, he often ends up as baby-sitter to Semyon’s son, Kirill, who constantly tests the boundaries afforded to him as Semyon’s heir. From his tattooed frame and constant cool, we get a feel that there is much more to the quiet-speaking Nikolai than one would infer from the title of chauffeur.
The story unfolds as Naomi Watts, an innocent mid-wife, stumbles upon the diary of a young Russian prostitute in London. As she searches for answers behind the diary, she unknowingly intertwines herself into the devious underworld of London’s Russian mafia. It is through her naïve questioning and unflinching search for the truth that she encounters Semyon and more importantly, Nikolai.
Semyon plays the role of mob kingpin disturbingly well with a cool, laid back demeanor but as Anna (Naomi Watts’ character) inches closer to the truth, we begin to see Semyon lose his composed manner. While Semyon slowly loses his calm with the ever-pestering Anna, Nikolai keeps his nonchalant gangster disposition throughout the movie. He displays his ever composed character during scenes that would break most characters: Kirill forces him to have sex with an underage prostitute while later in the movie it has him in a bath house scene knife fighting two thugs in the nude.
Cronenberg exercises great restraint and balance in this movie by using graphic scenes of violence (the movie’s very first scene has a Mafioso sawing into a characters throat with methodical precision) while keeping the movie focused on the emotional plight of the characters. I think a lot of directors would automatically feel the need to emphasize the violent nature of a mob movie with surplus killings and gratuitous violence. Cronenberg’s message of violence is clear: a few graphic scenes have the ability to portray violence just as much, if not more, than numerous scenes of carnage.
The film has an authentic feel to it that comes from how much time was spent on the different aspects of the movie. All the characters, especially Mortenson’s Nikolai, have their Russian speech and accents nailed solid. Cronenberg also does well by keeping the mood of the movie, gloomy and intense, through the ominous backdrop of dreary London.
Another high point was the subject matter. Countless mafia movies come out every decade but almost all of them are centered around the Cosa Nostra (Sicilian mob) but writer Steve Knight chose the little written about (at least in Hollywood) Russian mafia. I thought that the movie worked well on every level, writing, directing and acting, a hard goal to accomplish these days in the hubbub of Hollywood.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
God is Good, God is Great
I arrived at the Bergstrom International Airport a few months back and realized, much to my chagrin that I had forgotten to pack any sort of on-flight literature. Luckily, I had time to browse the newest releases in the airport BookPeople. None of the book titles caught my attention until I saw Christopher Hitchens’ new book entitled “God is not Great, How Religion Poisons Everything”.
I picked up the book (with its obnoxious, glowing yellow cover) without reading anymore than the title and was soon on my way to learning more about religion than almost TEN years of studies at parochial schools had taught me. With a very intelligent and satiric tone to his writing, he shows the reader the darker sides of what arguably the most important social institution of mankind.
If you are looking for a challenging read with a great reward for knowledge at the end, “God is not Great” will enlighten any reader willing to take a step back and re-examine religion as a whole. One of the strongest aspects of the book is that he doesn’t focus solely on one religion but dissects almost all major religious faiths and then gives you verifiable facts to back up his claims.
Readers that enjoy a sharp, witty tone will appreciate Christopher Hitchens latest book whether they agree or disagree with his arguments.
I picked up the book (with its obnoxious, glowing yellow cover) without reading anymore than the title and was soon on my way to learning more about religion than almost TEN years of studies at parochial schools had taught me. With a very intelligent and satiric tone to his writing, he shows the reader the darker sides of what arguably the most important social institution of mankind.
If you are looking for a challenging read with a great reward for knowledge at the end, “God is not Great” will enlighten any reader willing to take a step back and re-examine religion as a whole. One of the strongest aspects of the book is that he doesn’t focus solely on one religion but dissects almost all major religious faiths and then gives you verifiable facts to back up his claims.
Readers that enjoy a sharp, witty tone will appreciate Christopher Hitchens latest book whether they agree or disagree with his arguments.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
It's Always Sunny in my DVD Player
After over a year of not having cable, I am plugged back in but still only watch a few shows with an almost religious fervor. One of those shows is the outlandishly satirical series “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” which airs every Thursday night on FX at 9 pm.
About two weeks ago, I made the wise investment of purchasing the first and second seasons on DVD and my roommate and I have been kept in hysterics by this edgy sitcom ever since. After I bought the DVD, I began looking up information about the show when I found my schoolwork too tedious to keep my attention. My favorite little morsel that I found about the show is on IMDB.com who describes It’s Always Sunny under the Tagline: It’s “Seinfeld” on crack.
The show is based on 4 (ass-hole) friends who are constantly arguing with each other about a vast array of topics: abortion, underage drinking, welfare, gun control, etc. They take these issues to extreme measures to prove a point about societal problems. For instance, in one episode, brother and sisters Dennis and Dee want to go on welfare but in order to do so they need something circumstantial in order to achieve welfare status. Queue Dennis and Dee getting addicted to crack in order to fulfill a welfare requirement.
Ever since the cancellation of “Arrested Development”, one of the most ingenious ideas for a sitcom ever, television has been in need of a program that will push the boundaries of ‘acceptable programming’. Although the Fox network has one of the longest hit/miss columns among major networks in terms of successes and failures, with “It’s Always Sunny”, they’re helping keep television from reaching an inevitably stagnant existence.
About two weeks ago, I made the wise investment of purchasing the first and second seasons on DVD and my roommate and I have been kept in hysterics by this edgy sitcom ever since. After I bought the DVD, I began looking up information about the show when I found my schoolwork too tedious to keep my attention. My favorite little morsel that I found about the show is on IMDB.com who describes It’s Always Sunny under the Tagline: It’s “Seinfeld” on crack.
The show is based on 4 (ass-hole) friends who are constantly arguing with each other about a vast array of topics: abortion, underage drinking, welfare, gun control, etc. They take these issues to extreme measures to prove a point about societal problems. For instance, in one episode, brother and sisters Dennis and Dee want to go on welfare but in order to do so they need something circumstantial in order to achieve welfare status. Queue Dennis and Dee getting addicted to crack in order to fulfill a welfare requirement.
Ever since the cancellation of “Arrested Development”, one of the most ingenious ideas for a sitcom ever, television has been in need of a program that will push the boundaries of ‘acceptable programming’. Although the Fox network has one of the longest hit/miss columns among major networks in terms of successes and failures, with “It’s Always Sunny”, they’re helping keep television from reaching an inevitably stagnant existence.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
One Train I Wish I'd Missed
Blasphemous, purely blasphemous, that I have heard critics and move-goers alike say that 3:10 to Yuma (starring Christian Bale and Russell Crowe) is the best western since Unforgiven.As a student of the western film genre, I would arue that Unforgiven, with it's genuinely skillful acting and well-developed script, propelled itself to becoming the best western of this generation.
So naturally, I was elated to hear that a new western of the same magnitude had arrived in theatres. Then, I sat through the re-make of a perfectly well-done 50's western. Of course there aren't many liberties the director can take in changing a classic but the script could have used some serious work. Christian Bale's acting was on par, as per usual, and Russell Crowe did well too, but some of the cheesy lines he said were just too much. E.g, a cheesy, recurring pick up line that he uses with every girl he encounter,"What color are your eyes? Green, I knew a girl with green eyes once that looked just like you." Really Russell, I think you're better that that. I, along with two friends, walked out of the movie feeling jipped of our $6.25 and wanting those last two hours of our lives back.
The best part of the movie was the preview for the next Daniel Day-Lewis movie. There Will Be Blood looks like a gut-wrenching, no-holds-bar movie show-casing the themes of religion, greed and corruption. Not a good sign when the best part of your movie-going experience is a trailer.
So naturally, I was elated to hear that a new western of the same magnitude had arrived in theatres. Then, I sat through the re-make of a perfectly well-done 50's western. Of course there aren't many liberties the director can take in changing a classic but the script could have used some serious work. Christian Bale's acting was on par, as per usual, and Russell Crowe did well too, but some of the cheesy lines he said were just too much. E.g, a cheesy, recurring pick up line that he uses with every girl he encounter,"What color are your eyes? Green, I knew a girl with green eyes once that looked just like you." Really Russell, I think you're better that that. I, along with two friends, walked out of the movie feeling jipped of our $6.25 and wanting those last two hours of our lives back.
The best part of the movie was the preview for the next Daniel Day-Lewis movie. There Will Be Blood looks like a gut-wrenching, no-holds-bar movie show-casing the themes of religion, greed and corruption. Not a good sign when the best part of your movie-going experience is a trailer.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
"Phish" is "Dead", Welcome STS9
The Grateful Dead bore the weight of jam music on their shoulders for more than a quarter century when a new, young act popped up in Vermont, Phish. Many followers of the Dead started to drift to Phish shows after seeing the Dead seemed stagnant. The death of Jerry Garcia in 1995 solidified Phish on top of the Jam food chain with SCI (String Cheese Incident) and WP (Widespread Panic) nipping at their heels. Now, in 2007, Phish has made their final break and so has String Cheese leaving the door wide open for a new jam scene and a new kind of jam band: enter STS9 (Sound Tribe Sector 9).
Sound Tribe Sector 9 is gaining major momentum in the Jam music world utilizing a vast array of sounds including the standard guitar/bass/drums/keyboard sound while utilizing laptops to add a trademark sound. This past weekend, STS9 played Friday, September 14th at La Zona Rosa followed Saturday night by a PA set (a rarity among Sound Tribe shows) which was even more electronically influenced with all the members on laptop/keyboard/synthesiser. But just when the electronic sound seemed to be losing its effect on the crowd, Hunter Brown (lead guitarist) would pick up his six string and Zac Velmer (drums) hopped onto an ordinary 5-piece set and fuse the two sounds together. They followed the Friday and Saturday nite shows with an afternoon performance (1-2pm) at Zilker Park for the Austin City Limits Festival. I was not able to attend this show but after having seen STS9 upwards of 20 times, one hour in not nearly enough (there usual set is 3 sometimes 4 hours) and at a daytime show they can't exhibit their dazzling light show produced by Saxton Lights.
I talked to a friend who had toured all over the country this summer keeping up with both SCI and STS9 and she told me after both Friday and Saturday night that what she had seen in Austin topped anything she had seen all summer. And I can believe it; every concert I see them they give me something new and different, whether it is a new song, sound or even visual (they have pioneered the way for live art at concerts). So in the end, if you are getting bored with your music and would like to add a new sound to your life, try Sound Tribe Sector 9.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
On Monday, September 10th, the anti-war activist Reverend Lennox Yearwood was injured and hospitalized after being forced to the ground by six police officers. The Reverend, who after standing in line to watch the Congressional hearing of General Petraeus was skipped, proceeded to protest with the officers as to why they would not let him enter. (He was wearing an "I love the people of Iraq" button at the time). He was arrested for disorderly conduct and assaulting a police officer. Before they could detain him at the police office; he had to make a quick stop to the hospital after the six officers broke his ankle while he "allegedly" resisted arrest. Anyone who has seen footage of the incident should be wary of what is happening to our 1st Amendment rights which seemed be violated twice in the case of Reverend Yearwood.
Monday, September 10, 2007
The Uncapturable Banksy
For those of you who have not yet heard of the infamous Banksy, I will do my best to shed light on his devious, yet seemingly politically motivated acts of graffiti and mass-pranks. From what organizations, both artistic and governmental know about Banksy, he is in his late 20's and he hails from possibly Bristol or Redland England. He is world-renowned for his politically satirical graffiti art and his daring pranks or 'art stunts'. 
Although he (and his crew) are technically fugitives, (his face has only been seen by two interviewers), he is still able to sell his artwork through his manager. His work 'Space Girl and Bird', which was commissioned by the British alternative band Blur, sold for 288,000 pounds. His works has sold anywhere from 25,000 pounds to nearly 300,000 pounds. According to interviews though, he could care less about the money, he enjoys the emotion his art evokes from people and the risk that comes from being in his 'line of work'.
Aside from traditional graffiti art, Banksy also thrives on what are known in the art community as 'art stunts'. Two prime examples are when he and his crew replaced 500 of Paris Hilton's newly released CD with copies in which he had changed the images of to those of a topless Paris Hilton and remixed and changed the songs, with the help of Danger Mouse, to titles such as "Why am I Famous?" and "What am I for?". Probably his most daring art stunt happened during a tour he mad to L.A. He and his crew took a sawed-in-half phone booth and cemented it into an empty parking lot, however; the building adjacent to the parking lot was that of an unmarked FBI building. He is also famous for hanging his own artworks in museums such as the Met, the Museum of Modern Art and the British Museum in London who ironically left his work hanging.
Banksy has helped to inspire a new generation of artist into bringing their beliefs of politics and religion into their art and to take risks in doing so.
Although he (and his crew) are technically fugitives, (his face has only been seen by two interviewers), he is still able to sell his artwork through his manager. His work 'Space Girl and Bird', which was commissioned by the British alternative band Blur, sold for 288,000 pounds. His works has sold anywhere from 25,000 pounds to nearly 300,000 pounds. According to interviews though, he could care less about the money, he enjoys the emotion his art evokes from people and the risk that comes from being in his 'line of work'.
Aside from traditional graffiti art, Banksy also thrives on what are known in the art community as 'art stunts'. Two prime examples are when he and his crew replaced 500 of Paris Hilton's newly released CD with copies in which he had changed the images of to those of a topless Paris Hilton and remixed and changed the songs, with the help of Danger Mouse, to titles such as "Why am I Famous?" and "What am I for?". Probably his most daring art stunt happened during a tour he mad to L.A. He and his crew took a sawed-in-half phone booth and cemented it into an empty parking lot, however; the building adjacent to the parking lot was that of an unmarked FBI building. He is also famous for hanging his own artworks in museums such as the Met, the Museum of Modern Art and the British Museum in London who ironically left his work hanging.
Banksy has helped to inspire a new generation of artist into bringing their beliefs of politics and religion into their art and to take risks in doing so.
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