(no subject)

[wickedflea]

Holy shit: "AESTHETICS OF HATE: R.I.P. DIMEBAG ABBOTT, & GOOD RIDDANCE." I would hope it's a joke. Whatever it is, it sure pissed off a bunch of people over here.

Crap. My co-worker Nancy's last day is today. I'm gonna miss her a lot. Not every 50-year-old book editor is hip enough to trade Napoleon Dynamite references with me.

DAMMIT. I just thought of what would have been the perfect going-away present for her. We've had many discussions about Office Space, and I didn't even think about getting her a red Swingline stapler like Milton's. And she had even begged me a while back to send her the link to where you can buy them! Totally dropped the ball on that one. Maybe I'll get her one for Festivus.

Heading south this weekend. GRACK! I have way too much stuff to do before then. But I'm really looking forward to seeing the family, getting away from work, and recharging the ol' batteries. I haven't taken any extended time off in a year.

Comments

[iltamies.livejournal.com]

So when you go home, you really enjoy it and such? That's cool. I've never been to a part of the south with only good people. The one place I was at that had one good person was tainted with many many other bigots and morons.

[iltamies.livejournal.com]

That isn't to say of course that I think the whole south is that way, just that I personally haven't had the good fortune of happy experiences in the southland.

[wickedflea.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know. Duly noted. ;)

[wickedflea.livejournal.com]

Heh. I've never been to any part of the WORLD with only good people. :P

And yeah, I love the South. A lot of it just has to do with comfort level and a sense of home. In Connecticut, especially on an Ivy-League campus, I'm surrounded by much more like-minded people than I was in Mississippi--yet I doubt I'll ever feel as home here as I do down south. Sure, there's a lot of bigotry and idiocy there, but there are a lot of good people too. I dunno--it's sort of a complicated place, much less simple than it looks. It's sort of hard for me to articulate, but I find the South's tensions, quirks, and paradoxes strangely compelling. I don't think it's any accident that so many great writers come from the South.

must say

[nationofsheep.livejournal.com]

I have never met more bigots in my entire life than when I lived in Boston. Truly the most segregated city I have EVER been to. If you stay around the universities and don't branch out, you could miss it but you would have to keep your eyes closed. But I have never see ANYTHING like it in Texas. And yes, maybe there hasn't been a group of ex-cons dragging a black guy behind a car, but how about the entire police force of the city shaking down ANY suspicious looking black males due to the lies of a man who killed his pregnant wife and blamed it on black "gangsters". Even shot himself to make the part more convincing. Then threw himself off of a bridge to kill himself. And that is just the bigotry against black people. North End, Italians hate everyone but hide it from tourists with money - but there are grades, black people hated most. Roxbury, don't go if your not black. Charlestown - don't go if not Irish. Southie - make sure you are on the right street according to ethnicity. Somerville - stay out of Haitian neighborhoods. Brighton - there are Haseeds (spelling) that don't necessarily want you there, not that they will hurt you but you are not welcome. I could go on. But most importantly don't talk to the police unless your brother-inlaw is a cop. They'll think you need help and they'll kill you.

Re: must say

[wickedflea.livejournal.com]

Very strange. I don't think it's that bad here, but I definitely have seen some of what you're talking about. I remember when I first moved up here, a real-estate agent I looked for apartments with was telling me that he'd be sure to take care of me and make sure I didn't end up in an area that was too "diverse." Seems like I heard several comments like that right when I moved up, actually.

Re: must say

[nationofsheep.livejournal.com]

I was replying again and then turned it into a post.

[iltamies.livejournal.com]

Conflict is at the heart of a good story, eh?

[m-fallenangel.livejournal.com]

It's not a joke, and other than the "good riddance" tack, I can't say I disagree with him. There is a vast difference in quality between metal and classical. Even though I'm not a fan of either form, there are pieces and works in both that like, but I'm certainly not going to claim there is a comparison in quality between a Bach cello etude and Hellbilly Deluxe.

I also think it's an important educational goal to evaluate quality and structure. Otherwise we have people equating the poetry of a hack like Theta Burke with Emily Dickenson.

That being said, have fun Down Home, and give it some love for me.

[wickedflea.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry--that guy is full of shit and a total boor. To me, the metal vs. classical argument is bunk; it's like comparing apples and oranges. Reign in Blood does different things to me than Beethoven's Ninth, and I prefer not to get hung up on debating their relative merits. Serves no purpose to me; they're separate playing fields. So one's somewhat primitive and one's not. Would you discount the value of Delta blues just because it's also primitive? And furthermore, would you denigrate the entire Delta blues audience or say "good riddance" when a bluesman got shot onstage?

Should we evaluate quality and structure? Absolutely. Should we revere time-honored classics? Of course. But should we apply standards across the board when we really shouldn't? I don't think so. Am I to believe that there's been no good music produced since the 1800s? Or no good art since the Renaissance? Seems a bit short-sighted to me.

For what it's worth, I don't own a single Pantera record. I've never cared for them. But I'm not going to say that the dude couldn't play guitar or that nothing he did had any merit.

I'll have some boiled peanuts for you.

cool

[nationofsheep.livejournal.com]

With you, but I would add emphasis on the fact that a man was killed by another man. That fucking sucks that anyone would use the oppertunity to become a music critic. I read into the author's archives and that guy is a total fucking nut job. There is no excuse for celebrating someone's murder because you didn't like their music. I am not a Pantera fan either. That's just fucking stupid.

Re: cool

[wickedflea.livejournal.com]

Exactly. It's just mind-boggling. That's why I couldn't convince myself at first that it was real--but you're right, there are those archives, and I really do think he's serious.

[madetoshine.livejournal.com]

You rule so hard, Chris! Well said!

[wickedflea.livejournal.com]

Boo--yaa! Thanks, Suz. :)

[m-fallenangel.livejournal.com]

Yes, this guy overstates his case, and does so rudely. However, there's a big difference between blues and MOST metal. Most metal is a study in dissonance that really doesn't require much musical knowledge to compose, although given the speed with which it's played, it does require talent to execute well.

How well it's often executed is open to debate, but yes, many of the musicians have technical talent, even if their music is amateurish.

Blues on the other hand, while "primitive", does have an intricate and layed structure, meeting in most instance my standard of "good" music. In the case of blues, particularly Delta and Chicago blues, the simplicity is an integal part of the overall structure. It usually doesn't require as much talent on the part of the individual musician, but the writer has to be much more talented than most metal writers.

As always, mileage varies.

[buscemi.livejournal.com]

How long are you going to be back home? Just curious.

[wickedflea.livejournal.com]

Whole trip will be about two weeks, I think. Will leave sometime this weekend and come back the weekend of New Year's.

Eight Shades Of Freaky

[missbingley.livejournal.com]

Hi, I just got your comment about the weird phrase that we happen to share. I'm not exactly sure where I heard it--I often refer to things as "x shades of whatever", though whenever I refer to freakiness, I always use eight. Very bizarre indeed, now I'm wondering what I got it from!

Re: Eight Shades Of Freaky

[wickedflea.livejournal.com]

Haha! Thanks for responding. I guess we just share some sort of cosmic freakiness! It's always eight with me too. I started thinking about that too--I thought about searching for "seven shades of freaky" or whatever, and then I thought: "No way, that's just crazy. Who the fuck in his right mind would ever say 'seven shades of freaky'?" ;)

[starflow.livejournal.com]

I'm turning green with envy! I would LOVE to be headed down south right and now and the weather has nothing to do with it. I'm just homesick. I'll live vicariously through you. Swing by Americus, GA for me, will you? :)

[wickedflea.livejournal.com]

If I had time, I would definitely do it! I've always thought that Georgia's a beautiful state. But the only time I'll be able to spend there is driving through the northwest corner between Chattanooga and Alabama.

Got any requests for me to bring back? Barbecue? Boiled peanuts? Cigarettes? ;)

[starflow.livejournal.com]

Funny you should bring up cigarettes! I just finished the last pack my friend lastcallforcorn brought up in October! They're just so much cheaper down there.

Naw, I don't need anything. I'm waiting for the next peanut harvest to I can make my own boiled peanuts, with cajun spices. It's going to FREAK my roommates out. Can't wait!

[wickedflea.livejournal.com]

Hehe, I know! I always bring back at least 3-4 cartons, which can last me a few months.

Do you know where you can get fresh raw peanuts up there? I don't remember seeing them around here, but I haven't checked farmer's markets or anything.

[starflow.livejournal.com]

I smoke so little up here, since it isn't allowed in bars and restaurants, and none of my friends here smoke. In Georgia, I could buy a carton from my local convenience store for $23.99--name brand! I don't think you can do that in MA with the worst off brand cigarettes. It's crazy!

I honestly have no idea where to buy raw peanuts up here. They'll be at the Winn Dixie next month, so I'm just going to have someone send them to me. It'll probably be a lot less expensive, too.

Okay, great. Now I want boiled peanuts, cheese grits and a full meal at Waffle House!