This election will go down in history for many reasons. One of them will be the fact that it is the first election to make use of the web in such a great fashion. Not just as a podium for advertising, but also as a platform for voices and ideas. These voices from Israel would never be heard, the cost to run ads would be prohibitive. Instead, they run on YouTube, are wholly free and can be disseminated and passed on by whom? By us!
When Obama talked about this election being ours he meant a great many things. I know, I've seen the people in action.
He also meant that the voices of the not-rich can be heard, can make a difference. You don't need an ad team and a corporate ad buy. You need a camera and a computer and your voice can be heard.
It is a grand time to be around.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
israel for obama
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Polling Data: Wildly fluctuating harbingers of false hope...or maybe the sayers of some sooth.
So, here we are, heading into the final stretch. And I've come to learn one thing: Polls don't mean anything.
And this is certainly true. After all, there are a tone of mitigating factors. You must consider the source, first off. Then after that, there's the "bubba vote"; racists who won't vote for Barack no matter what they tell you. "OS votes" the my-spouse-is-looking-over-myshoulder so I won't tell him that I AM voting for Barack" and it goes on. Cell phones mean no one is really where they say they are. blah blah. And polls swing, that is their nature.
After Palin made her speech we watched as the momentum flung the polls hard in to the right. But. after the dust settled, everything was just about even going into the debates.
Where are we now, then? Well, interestingly, what I am going to show is the latest polling data from www.fivethirtyeight.com, a website dedicated to compiling the most comprehensive aggregate simulations of all the polls they can get their heads and hands wrapped around. Strangely, a lot of this isn't all that different than the data before the debate came in.
And what does this mean to me?
Let's take a look:
In this graphic we can see that, although Barack is pretty much tied for the popular vote, that isn't what really matters. The thing is, the Obama camp knows, understands and believes this more than Kerry and Gore last times. That's why the win percentage is 75%. And the electoral swing is huge. But it's not, NOT, much bigger than it was pre-debate/post-nuclear, campaign on hold, McTombstone goes to Washington meltdown. It probably reflects that meltdown, as well as the Palin deflation. I have to wonder if there will be much correction or if the momentum is with B.O. for the rest of the cycle. Bear in mind that I agree that there will be some shifting back to McAble at some point, I just don't see it evening out.
Because....
Since I have started volunteering I have come to see just how this ground team works. It's as though grassroots organizing has caught up with technology and vice versa. There is no way that the other side is prepared for the troops at work. I know there is a lot of lip service being paid to Barack's small donor fundraising efforts. The idea that the campaign is financed by the people is just true, though. It really isn't rhetoric. I know this because I am seeing it in action. Not just at the 300+ person camp Obama I attended. Not just at the opening of the main office that expected 150 and saw 1500 arrive unannounced. Not just the people I have seen become Vounteer Coordinators, Team Coordinators, Deputy Field Officers, etc, in a matter of days, all over the country. Some sparked just by a couple of chats I or someone else had with them on Facebook. All of that is buoyed by the phone calls and canvassing that I am seeing happen.
See, Cali adopted the battleground state of Nevada since we know that California will go for Obama. We put our resources into turning Nevada blue. As you may know, it's generally a red state where we consistently have 2-3 point deficits.
300 volunteers were called for to go TO Nevada and go door to door and find the supporters, register them and get out the vote in that state.
3000 people signed up and have been descending on Nevada like a military operation of grassrootsian proportions.
Look at that map again. Go ahead, blow it up. Look at Nevada.
Light blue. And getting bluer. This is all the work of the ground team. The DFOs, the RFOs, the volunteers, the people.
Might it swing back? Sure. But for right now it's proving that there is something happening. Just what? Who knows? If the trends continue all Barack would have to do is turn another state blue.
See, we are scheduled to win all the Kerry states. Plus a few others. McCain needs to win all of these battleground states. Or most of them. We just needs to turn a couple. Like Florida. Or Ohio. Or Indiana.
An uphill battle.
But look at this:
Both Ohio AND Indiana are turning blue. Could there be a concerted effort to turn those states? Ya think?
But what of the granddaddy of all hanging chads?
I have a friend in Florida. Facebook put me back in touch with her, she being a person from my youth in Maine. She lives in Florida now and was dismayed at the general red feeling her neighborhood had been projecting.
She went to hear Barack speak. She couldn't get close. It was a mad crush of like minded people.
She is now a volunteer coordinator.
And look at Florida's numbers this morning:
That's sort of crazy, eh?
These polls mean nothing. I know. But when I am giving a new phone banker a primer on what to do when everyone on their list either isn't home or says, "I'm voting for McCain!" or "We're Republicans" and hangs up on them, this is the kind of info that keeps spirits up. Because, yes, polls are like tides, but we're making waves.
On that note.
Back to the phones!
And this is certainly true. After all, there are a tone of mitigating factors. You must consider the source, first off. Then after that, there's the "bubba vote"; racists who won't vote for Barack no matter what they tell you. "OS votes" the my-spouse-is-looking-over-myshoulder so I won't tell him that I AM voting for Barack" and it goes on. Cell phones mean no one is really where they say they are. blah blah. And polls swing, that is their nature.
After Palin made her speech we watched as the momentum flung the polls hard in to the right. But. after the dust settled, everything was just about even going into the debates.
Where are we now, then? Well, interestingly, what I am going to show is the latest polling data from www.fivethirtyeight.com, a website dedicated to compiling the most comprehensive aggregate simulations of all the polls they can get their heads and hands wrapped around. Strangely, a lot of this isn't all that different than the data before the debate came in.
And what does this mean to me?
Let's take a look:
In this graphic we can see that, although Barack is pretty much tied for the popular vote, that isn't what really matters. The thing is, the Obama camp knows, understands and believes this more than Kerry and Gore last times. That's why the win percentage is 75%. And the electoral swing is huge. But it's not, NOT, much bigger than it was pre-debate/post-nuclear, campaign on hold, McTombstone goes to Washington meltdown. It probably reflects that meltdown, as well as the Palin deflation. I have to wonder if there will be much correction or if the momentum is with B.O. for the rest of the cycle. Bear in mind that I agree that there will be some shifting back to McAble at some point, I just don't see it evening out.
Because....
Since I have started volunteering I have come to see just how this ground team works. It's as though grassroots organizing has caught up with technology and vice versa. There is no way that the other side is prepared for the troops at work. I know there is a lot of lip service being paid to Barack's small donor fundraising efforts. The idea that the campaign is financed by the people is just true, though. It really isn't rhetoric. I know this because I am seeing it in action. Not just at the 300+ person camp Obama I attended. Not just at the opening of the main office that expected 150 and saw 1500 arrive unannounced. Not just the people I have seen become Vounteer Coordinators, Team Coordinators, Deputy Field Officers, etc, in a matter of days, all over the country. Some sparked just by a couple of chats I or someone else had with them on Facebook. All of that is buoyed by the phone calls and canvassing that I am seeing happen.
See, Cali adopted the battleground state of Nevada since we know that California will go for Obama. We put our resources into turning Nevada blue. As you may know, it's generally a red state where we consistently have 2-3 point deficits.
300 volunteers were called for to go TO Nevada and go door to door and find the supporters, register them and get out the vote in that state.
3000 people signed up and have been descending on Nevada like a military operation of grassrootsian proportions.
Look at that map again. Go ahead, blow it up. Look at Nevada.
Light blue. And getting bluer. This is all the work of the ground team. The DFOs, the RFOs, the volunteers, the people.
Might it swing back? Sure. But for right now it's proving that there is something happening. Just what? Who knows? If the trends continue all Barack would have to do is turn another state blue.
See, we are scheduled to win all the Kerry states. Plus a few others. McCain needs to win all of these battleground states. Or most of them. We just needs to turn a couple. Like Florida. Or Ohio. Or Indiana.
An uphill battle.
But look at this:
Both Ohio AND Indiana are turning blue. Could there be a concerted effort to turn those states? Ya think?
But what of the granddaddy of all hanging chads?
I have a friend in Florida. Facebook put me back in touch with her, she being a person from my youth in Maine. She lives in Florida now and was dismayed at the general red feeling her neighborhood had been projecting.
She went to hear Barack speak. She couldn't get close. It was a mad crush of like minded people.
She is now a volunteer coordinator.
And look at Florida's numbers this morning:
That's sort of crazy, eh?
These polls mean nothing. I know. But when I am giving a new phone banker a primer on what to do when everyone on their list either isn't home or says, "I'm voting for McCain!" or "We're Republicans" and hangs up on them, this is the kind of info that keeps spirits up. Because, yes, polls are like tides, but we're making waves.
On that note.
Back to the phones!
You want a populist? You got one!
Favorite quote right now:
"Here in America our destiny isn't written for us. It's written by us."
"Here in America our destiny isn't written for us. It's written by us."
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Amateur Foodie: Toast - West Hollywood
We love Lulu's Cafe on Beverly. I think we started going there because of the the name (what's not to love?) but, after a lunch or two it has become a favorite spot of my wife and mine.
I always order the same thing, because invariably I am on some stupid diet or watching my carbs or something and I get the Paparazzi Salad. It's got the perfect balance of chicken and veggies, most notably Asparagus. I'm sure there's other good things on the menu but I never bite.
The owner of Lulu's mentioned to us that they own another restaurant down the street called "Toast". We have always wanted to eat there but the line is forbidding. The line is also a pain at Lulu's but it's closer to our house.
The other day I was actually looking for another place to eat after I found myself the victim of some scam (long story, father rolling in his grave sort of thing, I shan't be writing about it, too embarrassed). By happenstance I parked in front of the pretentiously named eatery.
After seating I looked up Toast on Yelp and decided to let a reviewer order for me: The Corner Wrap and Sweet Potato Fries. Seemed like it would hit the spot and I was on my way to the gym so I could work off those fries. It also helped that the waiter confirmed this to be one of the most popular dishes at the restaurant. Can't always trust those Yelpers, y'know....
Let's start with the Sweet Potato Fries. Yes. Nice. Crispy and delicate. As they melted in my mouth it occurred to me that it had NEVER occurred to me to make these things. And I should. I should eat them every day. While on the elliptical. And crying.
Now, the corner wrap is another story. It's not bad. It's not great. I like the avocado and I appreciate the masking tape that keeps the foodstuffs stuffed in there. Trouble is, the flatbread used for the wrap comes across, rather flimsily, as the sandwich is extricated from the paper.
There was a ranch-style dip but I didn't know if it was for the fries or the wrap and decided against asking since I was over my calorie-indulgent quota already and didn't need a cream sauce to add any more strides to my workout.
In sum:
It's a flavorful meal but it's not very practical and it made it impossible for me to really enjoy my multi-tasking. And isn't that what solo-lunching is all about? Eating while: researching agents, making calls, checking email and listening to Slate.com's political gabfest? Isn't it?
Okay, maybe not.
I'm gonna stick with the Paparazzi over at Lulu's. I like the name better anyways.
Actual soundtrack: Was there any? I can't remember
Suggested Soundtrack: I was listening to Natalie Portman's Shaved Head, but I think I just like the name. Spoon works.
I always order the same thing, because invariably I am on some stupid diet or watching my carbs or something and I get the Paparazzi Salad. It's got the perfect balance of chicken and veggies, most notably Asparagus. I'm sure there's other good things on the menu but I never bite.
The owner of Lulu's mentioned to us that they own another restaurant down the street called "Toast". We have always wanted to eat there but the line is forbidding. The line is also a pain at Lulu's but it's closer to our house.
The other day I was actually looking for another place to eat after I found myself the victim of some scam (long story, father rolling in his grave sort of thing, I shan't be writing about it, too embarrassed). By happenstance I parked in front of the pretentiously named eatery.
After seating I looked up Toast on Yelp and decided to let a reviewer order for me: The Corner Wrap and Sweet Potato Fries. Seemed like it would hit the spot and I was on my way to the gym so I could work off those fries. It also helped that the waiter confirmed this to be one of the most popular dishes at the restaurant. Can't always trust those Yelpers, y'know....
Let's start with the Sweet Potato Fries. Yes. Nice. Crispy and delicate. As they melted in my mouth it occurred to me that it had NEVER occurred to me to make these things. And I should. I should eat them every day. While on the elliptical. And crying.
Now, the corner wrap is another story. It's not bad. It's not great. I like the avocado and I appreciate the masking tape that keeps the foodstuffs stuffed in there. Trouble is, the flatbread used for the wrap comes across, rather flimsily, as the sandwich is extricated from the paper.
There was a ranch-style dip but I didn't know if it was for the fries or the wrap and decided against asking since I was over my calorie-indulgent quota already and didn't need a cream sauce to add any more strides to my workout.
In sum:
It's a flavorful meal but it's not very practical and it made it impossible for me to really enjoy my multi-tasking. And isn't that what solo-lunching is all about? Eating while: researching agents, making calls, checking email and listening to Slate.com's political gabfest? Isn't it?
Okay, maybe not.
I'm gonna stick with the Paparazzi over at Lulu's. I like the name better anyways.
Actual soundtrack: Was there any? I can't remember
Suggested Soundtrack: I was listening to Natalie Portman's Shaved Head, but I think I just like the name. Spoon works.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
He RE-CUSED HIM-self...........
I know you've all seen this but, really. Did she learn the script phonetically?
Watch CBS Videos Online
Watch CBS Videos Online
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Death by Television: Boston Legal (ABC)
I am a Boston Legal addict.
It happened over the summer.
With a dearth of television and movies disappointing me at every turn I turned to the first season of BL and never looked back.
I watched the first three seasons at breakneck speed, check my Netflix history.
I have yet to see Season 4 but last night saw the return for 5 and I, of course, tuned it.
Meh.
The show was decidedly uninteresting. Spader's closing was extremely well written as usual. This time he defeats Big Tobacco.
I think what has finally gotten to me is: Shatner's character, Denny Crane almost NEVER does or says anything remotely humane. Why does Spader, the most lefty crusading bleeding heart lawyer this side the tv world has seen since The Defenders, keep calling him his best friend?
Doesn't make sense.
That said.
Still crackled enough for me to keep watching.
Death by Television: How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
How I Met Your Mother - CBS
Wither the sitcom. Really. The home to the great 4 camera shows of the golden age of TV is really the only place to see (semi) quality situation comedies anymore. And one of those is Two & a Half Men.
I have been watching and loving HIMYM for two years now. Took us a while to get into it. I loved the semi-meta aspect of the show. The episode where they all ate sandwiches as a euphemism for pot was hilarious. I even like the conceit that the lead is telling the story of the courtship to his kids. This conceit is a problem, however, since we all know that Sarah Chalke is NOT the titular mother. So, Ted's relationship with her is doomed as we know it.
Okay, blah blah. This show was never about that. It was about these meta-characters as voices for the detached gen-yers. And that's where the season premiere falls apart. Ted is desperate for his new girlfriend to love his favorite movie of all time. Otherwise, how could they spend the rest of their lives together?
Trouble is: Said movie is Star Wars. That's the favorite movie of, say, my generation. (Yeah, I know this is a flimsy argument, but it's my blog). I would then portend that the movie is either the fave of the creators or that they couldn't think of a more geeked out, universally loved flick.
I agree with those points, after all, I made them. But understanding that didn't make the episode any better.
It all seems to be going the Friends route of "split all the characters up and divide up the A,B & C stories.
It's hard to care at this point.
Introduce the mother and get Barney and Sparkles together or you are looking at your last season.
Wither the sitcom. Really. The home to the great 4 camera shows of the golden age of TV is really the only place to see (semi) quality situation comedies anymore. And one of those is Two & a Half Men.
I have been watching and loving HIMYM for two years now. Took us a while to get into it. I loved the semi-meta aspect of the show. The episode where they all ate sandwiches as a euphemism for pot was hilarious. I even like the conceit that the lead is telling the story of the courtship to his kids. This conceit is a problem, however, since we all know that Sarah Chalke is NOT the titular mother. So, Ted's relationship with her is doomed as we know it.
Okay, blah blah. This show was never about that. It was about these meta-characters as voices for the detached gen-yers. And that's where the season premiere falls apart. Ted is desperate for his new girlfriend to love his favorite movie of all time. Otherwise, how could they spend the rest of their lives together?
Trouble is: Said movie is Star Wars. That's the favorite movie of, say, my generation. (Yeah, I know this is a flimsy argument, but it's my blog). I would then portend that the movie is either the fave of the creators or that they couldn't think of a more geeked out, universally loved flick.
I agree with those points, after all, I made them. But understanding that didn't make the episode any better.
It all seems to be going the Friends route of "split all the characters up and divide up the A,B & C stories.
It's hard to care at this point.
Introduce the mother and get Barney and Sparkles together or you are looking at your last season.
Death by Television: Heroes (ABC)
Death by Television is a new feature based on a couple things: 1. I love television. I have two tivos, one in the bedroom and one in the kitchen and a dual recording HDDVR in the living room. I can rip anything off the Tivo in the bedroom to my macbook and burn it to my ipod for later viewing. There is nothing I want to see that I can not see.
That said. I find myself disappointed more than ever lately in the state of visual storytelling. For, isn't that why we love TV? To be told stories about people we care about, hate, are jealous of, are scared for, etc?
2. I also enjoy Twitter. Call me names, I don't care, I love the pithy, quick blurbage that our society has descended to.
With that we start Death by Television. Quick reviews of the returning and debuting television shows for the new season.The longest thing in this segment "should" be this introduction. Stop reading if the reviews are more than a couple hundred words. The shows won't be worth it.
Heroes - Season 3 - ABC Mondays
This might have been the most boring, lugubrious, casting off of audience goodwill and currency in the history of TV. Or, maybe, it's just that, after a terrific first season (with a terrible ending) there was no place to go.
Doesn't matter. I couldn't get through this two hour snoozefest and I found myself wishing that these "Heroes" would just band together and solve crimes ala Misfits of Science or Legion of Superheroes.
That said. I find myself disappointed more than ever lately in the state of visual storytelling. For, isn't that why we love TV? To be told stories about people we care about, hate, are jealous of, are scared for, etc?
2. I also enjoy Twitter. Call me names, I don't care, I love the pithy, quick blurbage that our society has descended to.
With that we start Death by Television. Quick reviews of the returning and debuting television shows for the new season.The longest thing in this segment "should" be this introduction. Stop reading if the reviews are more than a couple hundred words. The shows won't be worth it.
Heroes - Season 3 - ABC Mondays
This might have been the most boring, lugubrious, casting off of audience goodwill and currency in the history of TV. Or, maybe, it's just that, after a terrific first season (with a terrible ending) there was no place to go.
Doesn't matter. I couldn't get through this two hour snoozefest and I found myself wishing that these "Heroes" would just band together and solve crimes ala Misfits of Science or Legion of Superheroes.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Chowhound: Vito's Pizza - La Cienega (near Willoughby)
"You can't get good pizza in LA!", go the cries. I've heard them for 22 years. At first I was one of them. Then, truthfully, I forgot that this was even an issue (kind of the way it's easy to forget that LA has two baseball teams).
Over the years I have tried to find a good slice. Joe Peep's in the valley was a stop for a while back. But, that wasn't actually any good. It was just convenient to my apartment and it WASN'T Domino Hut.
20 years ago (and until their recent mass closings) Jacopo's was a standard bearer. A low rent Italian place whose food could best be described as hit or miss.
Yeah, for a while there it seemed like the only thing that passed for endemic pizza in LA was CPK, which is like the Red Lobster of Pizza Joints, except that the variety and flavorlessness exceeds the Lob's.
And Wolfgang Puck had his imprimatur, for better or worse (mostly weird, atchelly)
Then, about 8 years ago a pair of "NY-Style" joints came over the radar. One was the impossible-to-find-parking-at Frankie and Johnnie's on Sunset Blvd semi-across from the Hustler store. The pie was succulent and daring, varied and simple at the same time. Just what you want from Pizza. The beer was cold, the tv was muted and the pie always left you wanting...more, that is.
The other was (and is) a little place across from the now-defunct rock club, The Gig, on Melrose. Albano's reminds of a hole in the wall. It's cluttered, noisy and, some of the finest damn NY style pie I've had.
When we hosted a Pizza Party a few years ago, I made a special trip to the place to get the pies. Which, if you know the area I live in, is no mean feat.
Last week, LAist posted a piece about Vito's. and it has weighed on our minds ever since. I kept the page fresh on my Google Reader all week long.
I met Beth and Zoe at the joint after a long day of Phone Banking for Obama. It really is in a little nook in a strip mall. Even though it's in West Hollywood, there is parking, which is unheard of.
The handmade cardboard sign on the counter that calls for "no networking" made me curious and the waitress told us that its to prevent the proletariat from bothering the stars and producers. (proletariat is my word, stars was hers.)
It took about 15 minutes for us to get our pizza. Half cheese, half pep. (Hey, when you have an 18 month old, you can't afford to take chances on goat cheese and spinach!)
It's always been a treat to watch real pizza makers toss dough and , if you like that sorta thing, you are in for a real treat here.
The owner, a big Gandolfini of a man, throws the pizza while laughing and singing along with the Sinatras and standards and, although he never once made us feel at home, it just felt right being there. Like it was a neighborhood place whose warmth is spread through cheese and sauce. The staff is great. Unobtrusive, quick, friendly.
But, what about the pie?
Easily one of the top 3 pizzas I have ever had in this town. In fact, I rate it as high, if not higher, as many of the pizza joints in NY. I never really understood why everyone thought Ray's was the greatest. It's not. It's good, but it doesn't make me salivate to think about it. And, hell, I would rather be able to sit down any day. My memories of a lot of NY pizza places is standing at high tables, dripping oil on red formica and barely swallowing before heading off to destinations on the double R.
Vito's is everything I was expecting. Everything I want from pizza. It was fabulous.
Soundtrack: Standards, oldies
Suggested Soundtrack: The Ramones.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Listening Post: Aerosmith - Get a Grip
How do the boys from beantown follow up their masterwork?
Aerosmith - Get a Grip -1993 (buy it)
Livejudging Get a Grip:
1. Intro: Great. Nod your hat at the very tune that got you here. Nice.
2. Eat the Rich:Oh, back to the big-ass riffage that you were known for in the first place. Why does Perry sound so good? B+
3. Get a Grip: Did I need that belch? I don't think so. Infectious, but ultimately boring big blues rock.B-
4. Fever: Like Elvis on steroids. Or Horton Heat Lite. Put the top down, find a piece of traffic-free, open road and crank it. A
5. Livin on the Edge: This song gets extra points for being co-written by Mark Hudson, one of the Hudson Brothers from that cheeky Saturday Morning variety show. (And he's Kate Hudson's uncle!) It also helps that it's a pretty good anthemic rock tune. B+
6. Flesh: The first real turkey the band has churned out in years. It's just a wannabe sex-driven, almost Reznor influenced, one-eye-on-the-charts one trick pony that wears out its welcome before the second chorus. C-
7. Walk on Down: What's this? This doesn't sound like Steve---oh. It's a Perry track. No doubt he's taking the vocals. He has that laconic semi-ability to sing where he sounds like a lazy power pop rocker or Kiss on a bad day. If this is what The Joe Perry Project sounded like, I'm glad I never heard it.Pass. C
8. Shut Up and Dance: This is a weird and really poor track. Why weird? Because it's co-written by Tommy Shaw and Jack Blades, the guys from Damn Yankees (And Styx and Night Ranger....) Why is that weird? Because it is the furthest thing from a rock song that I've heard in a while. It's just a melange of competing riffs and licks and it's muddled and ugly and it's these ROCKERS calling for us to dance. Um....no. D
9. Cryin': God bless the big, rustic, farm-tinged, anthem rock ballad. Does it work? Sure. Why not. I almost wish it was bigger. Or I was at the prom. Or dating a young Alicia Silverstone. A
10. Gotta Love It: The Hudson Brother's back but this time everyone was too busy asking him what Goldie Hawn was really like to realize that they hadn't really written a song. "She was my SISTER IN LAW, you idiots!" He could be heard shouting but, by the time the day was done, there was nothing but a future jingle for Cold Stone Creamery and a lot of hurt feelings. C-
Man this album is long........
11. Crazy: When in doubt, mine the territory of so many country-western amblers and toss in a little retro-50's talkin' to your "girl". I always thought this was the weakest of that trilogy, but it did have a couple things going for it: Liv and Alicia, acting all lipstick lesbiany. There's just something so wrong with Steve singing a love song over images of his daughter writhing in her underwear on a stripper pole. Not as bad as his singing a love song over images of Ben Affleck mounting his daughter, but pretty damned close. This piece of junk won a Grammy......blech. C
12. Line Up: Lenny Kravitz gets in on the action with a songwriting credit on this one. Line Up kind of sounds like the theme song to a wacky comedy from the 70s starring Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder and is ABSOLUTELY the kind of song you would expect to hear the Brady Family sing in their Variety Show amidst the ice skating distractions. Oh, wait, is this song still on? Blah. C-
13. Can't Stop Messin': My version of this album has this Japanese B-side right there at lucky number 13. Also co-written by the Damn Yankees boys it kind of makes you understand why that band couldn't go any further than "High Enough". This tune sounds like the kind of drivel Brian May would foist on the band toward the end (Anyone remember Headlong?). Completely unmemorable. C
14. Epic Rock Tune 3, otherwise known as Amazing: Actually, of those three, Celine Dion/Dianne Warren-esque anthems, Amazing is the best. Sounding a bit like Wings with a taste of Jon Brion (who I like to believe they copped from retroactively), this is the song that probably sounds the most like the band is pandering. As it could be Dream On, or Sweet Emotion, or any other Tyler screeching ballad. But where those were heartfelt and dynamic, the later ballads just seem to be begging 15 year old girls to buy into the desperate pleas for emotional validation and, thereby, the records. This from the guys who wrote Cheese Cake. A
15. Boogie Man: Pointlessly useless instrumental closing track. A tedious part of the repertoire by now. D
Sadly, Get a Grip is a real step back for the band whose second act is notoriously brilliant. A hodgepodge at best. A letdown in every way.
Yet it sold a bajilion copies.
Oh well.
Grade C
A Side: Cryin', Amazing, Livin on the Edge
Blind Side: Fever, Eat the Rich,
Down Side: Shut up and Dance, Boogie Man, Walk on Down & Gotta Love It.
Aerosmith - Get a Grip -1993 (buy it)
Livejudging Get a Grip:
1. Intro: Great. Nod your hat at the very tune that got you here. Nice.
2. Eat the Rich:Oh, back to the big-ass riffage that you were known for in the first place. Why does Perry sound so good? B+
3. Get a Grip: Did I need that belch? I don't think so. Infectious, but ultimately boring big blues rock.B-
4. Fever: Like Elvis on steroids. Or Horton Heat Lite. Put the top down, find a piece of traffic-free, open road and crank it. A
5. Livin on the Edge: This song gets extra points for being co-written by Mark Hudson, one of the Hudson Brothers from that cheeky Saturday Morning variety show. (And he's Kate Hudson's uncle!) It also helps that it's a pretty good anthemic rock tune. B+
6. Flesh: The first real turkey the band has churned out in years. It's just a wannabe sex-driven, almost Reznor influenced, one-eye-on-the-charts one trick pony that wears out its welcome before the second chorus. C-
7. Walk on Down: What's this? This doesn't sound like Steve---oh. It's a Perry track. No doubt he's taking the vocals. He has that laconic semi-ability to sing where he sounds like a lazy power pop rocker or Kiss on a bad day. If this is what The Joe Perry Project sounded like, I'm glad I never heard it.Pass. C
8. Shut Up and Dance: This is a weird and really poor track. Why weird? Because it's co-written by Tommy Shaw and Jack Blades, the guys from Damn Yankees (And Styx and Night Ranger....) Why is that weird? Because it is the furthest thing from a rock song that I've heard in a while. It's just a melange of competing riffs and licks and it's muddled and ugly and it's these ROCKERS calling for us to dance. Um....no. D
9. Cryin': God bless the big, rustic, farm-tinged, anthem rock ballad. Does it work? Sure. Why not. I almost wish it was bigger. Or I was at the prom. Or dating a young Alicia Silverstone. A
10. Gotta Love It: The Hudson Brother's back but this time everyone was too busy asking him what Goldie Hawn was really like to realize that they hadn't really written a song. "She was my SISTER IN LAW, you idiots!" He could be heard shouting but, by the time the day was done, there was nothing but a future jingle for Cold Stone Creamery and a lot of hurt feelings. C-
Man this album is long........
11. Crazy: When in doubt, mine the territory of so many country-western amblers and toss in a little retro-50's talkin' to your "girl". I always thought this was the weakest of that trilogy, but it did have a couple things going for it: Liv and Alicia, acting all lipstick lesbiany. There's just something so wrong with Steve singing a love song over images of his daughter writhing in her underwear on a stripper pole. Not as bad as his singing a love song over images of Ben Affleck mounting his daughter, but pretty damned close. This piece of junk won a Grammy......blech. C
12. Line Up: Lenny Kravitz gets in on the action with a songwriting credit on this one. Line Up kind of sounds like the theme song to a wacky comedy from the 70s starring Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder and is ABSOLUTELY the kind of song you would expect to hear the Brady Family sing in their Variety Show amidst the ice skating distractions. Oh, wait, is this song still on? Blah. C-
13. Can't Stop Messin': My version of this album has this Japanese B-side right there at lucky number 13. Also co-written by the Damn Yankees boys it kind of makes you understand why that band couldn't go any further than "High Enough". This tune sounds like the kind of drivel Brian May would foist on the band toward the end (Anyone remember Headlong?). Completely unmemorable. C
14. Epic Rock Tune 3, otherwise known as Amazing: Actually, of those three, Celine Dion/Dianne Warren-esque anthems, Amazing is the best. Sounding a bit like Wings with a taste of Jon Brion (who I like to believe they copped from retroactively), this is the song that probably sounds the most like the band is pandering. As it could be Dream On, or Sweet Emotion, or any other Tyler screeching ballad. But where those were heartfelt and dynamic, the later ballads just seem to be begging 15 year old girls to buy into the desperate pleas for emotional validation and, thereby, the records. This from the guys who wrote Cheese Cake. A
15. Boogie Man: Pointlessly useless instrumental closing track. A tedious part of the repertoire by now. D
Sadly, Get a Grip is a real step back for the band whose second act is notoriously brilliant. A hodgepodge at best. A letdown in every way.
Yet it sold a bajilion copies.
Oh well.
Grade C
A Side: Cryin', Amazing, Livin on the Edge
Blind Side: Fever, Eat the Rich,
Down Side: Shut up and Dance, Boogie Man, Walk on Down & Gotta Love It.
Listening Post: Aerosmith - Pump
....a template for how to capitalize on the fluke success of the first hit hybrid of Rap/Rock...
Aerosmith - Pump - 1989 (Buy it)
Here's the way post-Listening Posts work: After I've made my way through the catalog of a band I back up my computer to the EHD. Then I go through the albums from that session's band and I delete anything that wasn't an "A Side" or "BlindSide". Wheat from Chaff.
It is rare, if ever, that I keep more than half of an album. In fact, I don't think I've kept an entire album since the first Listening Post, which was u2.
With Pump I find no reason to delete anything from the list. It's that good. I think this album is better than Permanent Vacation and, dare I say it, better than Rocks. (heresy!)
There's a couple things I noticed during listening to Pump:
Steve Tyler is in top notch form. His voice is elastic and he's having a blast with finding new ways to sound sleazy and bloozy.
The riffage is down to a minimum. Something that echoes the U2 Posts. I am a huge fan of the big electric guitar solo. I love riffs. Gimme more of that AC/DC! But, on Pump, they pull Perry back so far that he's no longer the STAR. There's very little spotlighting of his fretwork and, to be honest, less than memorable, licks. In it's stead we have terrific soundscaping production, a wider sound and a bigger variety of music.
Sure, "Love in an Elevator" sounds way too much like Def Leppard. That's fine. (In fact, when I used it to set a Genius playlist on my iPod the very next song chosen was "Armageddon It", so there ya go.) And Monkey on my Back sounds a LOT like Givin the Dog a Bone, but, what the fuck, it's so tasty you just let it pass.
The album itself, also seems to get better the deeper in you get. And with each listen.
Janie's Got a Gun is unlike anything Aerosmith ever did and boy does it hold up. Not only is the production top notch and ominous as hell, but the song itself is singable in a way that most Aerosmoth songs aren't. It helps that the video was so evocative 19 years ago that when the images come back to mind they only enhance the listening experience.
There is nothing bad on this record. It isn't indulgent, it seems to have put away ego-tripping and drugs as though the band resigned themselves to this machine (and second chance) called Aerosmith and decided to just go with it.
About that second chance. A lot of bands get reprises, second acts. In this case when RUN DMC shot Aerosmith back into the national spotlight, instead of just going with that and making their whole career about being, basically, a novelty act, they hired songwriters, better producers, pulled themselves together and put out the almost perfect Permanent Vacation. The success of that record seems to have imbued the band with a new sense of purpose. There are only two songs credited to an outside producer on Pump, the Uber-Ballad, "What it Takes" written with cash machine, Desmond Childs. But, unlike previous crappy Aerosmith ballads, I actually like this one. Sadly, it will be rewritten over and over by the band in the coming albums, but its great here. And The Other Side, which is credited with Holland Dozier Holland as co writers but that's because they sued, claiming the riff sounded like "Standing in the Shadows of Love" so that doesn't really count.....
Pump. Just great.
Grade A+
A Side: Janie Got a Gun, Love in an Elevator, What it Takes, The Other Side
BlindSide: Young Lust, F.I.N.E., Don't Get Mad, My Girl.....oh, what the hell, everything else.
Down Side: Nothing.
Aerosmith - Pump - 1989 (Buy it)
Here's the way post-Listening Posts work: After I've made my way through the catalog of a band I back up my computer to the EHD. Then I go through the albums from that session's band and I delete anything that wasn't an "A Side" or "BlindSide". Wheat from Chaff.
It is rare, if ever, that I keep more than half of an album. In fact, I don't think I've kept an entire album since the first Listening Post, which was u2.
With Pump I find no reason to delete anything from the list. It's that good. I think this album is better than Permanent Vacation and, dare I say it, better than Rocks. (heresy!)
There's a couple things I noticed during listening to Pump:
Steve Tyler is in top notch form. His voice is elastic and he's having a blast with finding new ways to sound sleazy and bloozy.
The riffage is down to a minimum. Something that echoes the U2 Posts. I am a huge fan of the big electric guitar solo. I love riffs. Gimme more of that AC/DC! But, on Pump, they pull Perry back so far that he's no longer the STAR. There's very little spotlighting of his fretwork and, to be honest, less than memorable, licks. In it's stead we have terrific soundscaping production, a wider sound and a bigger variety of music.
Sure, "Love in an Elevator" sounds way too much like Def Leppard. That's fine. (In fact, when I used it to set a Genius playlist on my iPod the very next song chosen was "Armageddon It", so there ya go.) And Monkey on my Back sounds a LOT like Givin the Dog a Bone, but, what the fuck, it's so tasty you just let it pass.
The album itself, also seems to get better the deeper in you get. And with each listen.
Janie's Got a Gun is unlike anything Aerosmith ever did and boy does it hold up. Not only is the production top notch and ominous as hell, but the song itself is singable in a way that most Aerosmoth songs aren't. It helps that the video was so evocative 19 years ago that when the images come back to mind they only enhance the listening experience.
There is nothing bad on this record. It isn't indulgent, it seems to have put away ego-tripping and drugs as though the band resigned themselves to this machine (and second chance) called Aerosmith and decided to just go with it.
About that second chance. A lot of bands get reprises, second acts. In this case when RUN DMC shot Aerosmith back into the national spotlight, instead of just going with that and making their whole career about being, basically, a novelty act, they hired songwriters, better producers, pulled themselves together and put out the almost perfect Permanent Vacation. The success of that record seems to have imbued the band with a new sense of purpose. There are only two songs credited to an outside producer on Pump, the Uber-Ballad, "What it Takes" written with cash machine, Desmond Childs. But, unlike previous crappy Aerosmith ballads, I actually like this one. Sadly, it will be rewritten over and over by the band in the coming albums, but its great here. And The Other Side, which is credited with Holland Dozier Holland as co writers but that's because they sued, claiming the riff sounded like "Standing in the Shadows of Love" so that doesn't really count.....
Pump. Just great.
Grade A+
A Side: Janie Got a Gun, Love in an Elevator, What it Takes, The Other Side
BlindSide: Young Lust, F.I.N.E., Don't Get Mad, My Girl.....oh, what the hell, everything else.
Down Side: Nothing.
Now that we're done with your childhood, let's rape your adolescence!
This sickens me to no end.
LONDON - Children's author Eoin Colfer is to write a sixth novel in the "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" series, seven years after the death of its creator Douglas Adams, publishers Penguin said on Wednesday.
The Irish writer, best known for his Artemis Fowl fairy stories, has the blessing of Adams' widow, Jane Belson, to continue the bestselling science fiction saga.
Called "And Another Thing...," the new novel will be published in October 2009. Colfer said he was a big fan of the original books, which started as a BBC radio serial.
On the contrary. Panic, fuckers.
LONDON - Children's author Eoin Colfer is to write a sixth novel in the "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" series, seven years after the death of its creator Douglas Adams, publishers Penguin said on Wednesday.
The Irish writer, best known for his Artemis Fowl fairy stories, has the blessing of Adams' widow, Jane Belson, to continue the bestselling science fiction saga.
Called "And Another Thing...," the new novel will be published in October 2009. Colfer said he was a big fan of the original books, which started as a BBC radio serial.
On the contrary. Panic, fuckers.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
One voter at a time
I phone banked for about an hour at HQ in West LA.
One person was home.
24 year old guy. He's always been a Republican, he said. His dad is. His whole family.
He hates immigration. Wants the wall put up. His family's been here since the civil war.
25 minutes with him.
Not sure what got to him. Energy, maybe. My energy argument is pretty good. Strong, effective and personal.
I Don't know.
I think it was this:
Him: "Also, McCain served in the military. Obama has not."
Me: Well, that's true and he did a great service to our country and we should give him respect and, perhaps, ask him for advice on things military. But...what do you do for a living?
Him: My last job was as an electrician on a construction job.
Me: And I assume you did a good job?
Him: Yeah.
Me: So, should you be the head electrician in Vegas?
Him: (Laughing) No!
Me: Hmmmm...Don't you want the smartest guy to be the president?
Him: Yeah. Why? Is Obama that smart?
Me: He was the head of the Law Review at Harvard. I don't know about you but I think that's a pretty good school.
Him: One of the best.
Me: And John McCain, while at Annapolis, graduated at the bottom of his class of 300 students. Right there, like third from the bottom.
Him: Really.
Me: Well, I do want the smartest person to be president. I dunno, though.
We kept talking for a short bit and at the end he said this:
"You know what? Move me from 'McCain' to 'Undecided'."
I couldn't ask for anything more.
Invigorating.
One person was home.
24 year old guy. He's always been a Republican, he said. His dad is. His whole family.
He hates immigration. Wants the wall put up. His family's been here since the civil war.
25 minutes with him.
Not sure what got to him. Energy, maybe. My energy argument is pretty good. Strong, effective and personal.
I Don't know.
I think it was this:
Him: "Also, McCain served in the military. Obama has not."
Me: Well, that's true and he did a great service to our country and we should give him respect and, perhaps, ask him for advice on things military. But...what do you do for a living?
Him: My last job was as an electrician on a construction job.
Me: And I assume you did a good job?
Him: Yeah.
Me: So, should you be the head electrician in Vegas?
Him: (Laughing) No!
Me: Hmmmm...Don't you want the smartest guy to be the president?
Him: Yeah. Why? Is Obama that smart?
Me: He was the head of the Law Review at Harvard. I don't know about you but I think that's a pretty good school.
Him: One of the best.
Me: And John McCain, while at Annapolis, graduated at the bottom of his class of 300 students. Right there, like third from the bottom.
Him: Really.
Me: Well, I do want the smartest person to be president. I dunno, though.
We kept talking for a short bit and at the end he said this:
"You know what? Move me from 'McCain' to 'Undecided'."
I couldn't ask for anything more.
Invigorating.
listening Post: Aerosmith - Permanent Vacation
Run-DMC re-energized the flagging brand and they return with a mega selling album. But is it any good?
Aerosmith - Permanent Vacation - 1987 (Buy It)
There is something familiar about this....this opening track...lemme check wikipedia...it's so....well, it's obviously a stronger, more assured piece of songwri- Oh, right. Got it.
So, Aerosmith basically realized that their strongest songwriting days were behind them and brought in some ringers. Like Desmond Child. Didn't I JUST get through dealing with this guy's work with Bon Jovi???? I thought for sure I was done with mirrors...I mean, Desmond Child. Okay, crap.
GREAT ROCK CONNECTIONS: Holly Knight co-wrote "Rag Doll". You don't know her? Do a wiki search, I'm not an encyclopedia (which is blogspeak for 'neither do I'). The great connection is that it's because of Mike (I write Hits for a living, mutha) Chapman. He's the person who really gave her her start in songwriting and publishing.
Thank goodness. If the first two tracks off this monster aren't that exciting (they're nothing special), Rag Doll is the deserved hit. Maybe I just like it so much better because I remember the video's constant presence and the girls were really hot in it, but I think the song is actually just the perfect little 'smith confection. Dirty, bloozy, simple, broadly stroked. I could listen to that song ever week for the rest of the decade.
It should be noted that this is the strongest the band has sounded in ages. Since Rocks. And the production carries with it just a hint, a glimmer, of '80s over production so it actually ends up sounding pretty good and not too dated at all.
You know, after listening to "Dude Looks Like a Lady" (Yes, I am live blogging this record) I have to come to a commonly head precept: Hits are Hits for a reason. This is just a tasty tune amidst workman-like songsmithing.
St. John sounds like the song David Lee Roth wish he had written for his "Skyscraper" solo record.
Hangman Jury is the closest Aerosmith has come to sounding like a real worshipper at the blues altar and not just at the feet of Jimmy Page.
And Bruce Fairbairn. He was a genius. The world definitely misses him. He gets special note because his work here and with Bon Jovi has elevated two mediocre bands to heights I didn't think they could reach.
The nice thing about "Permanent Vacation" is that it gets better as it gets roiled. Instead of being front-loaded with a couple hits and falling apart after that like so many of these albums do, this one keeps the listener entertained and engaged.
A solid return and a definite keeper.
Grade A
A Side: Rag Doll, Dude Looks Like A Lady & Girl Keeps Coming Apart
BlindSide: St. John (I'm a sucker for that prowly bass line that sounds like it's lifted from Dead Kennedys "The Prey" or every noir novel ever written & Hangman Jury
Downside: Angel. Yeah, I know it was a monster hit. But that opening just sounds so much like J. Geils' "Love Stinks" and the rest of the Dianne Warren-esqu horribilty reminds me of Cheap Trick's The Flame. Pandering balladeering at it's worst. And The Movie. Really. The world doesn't need instrumental music from Aersomith. Really.
Chowhound: Harvey's Sandwiches - West L.A.
This election cycle has me jazzed, energized and hopeful. For the first time in my (seemingly longer by the day) life I find myself pouring my frustration and vitriol into actually volunteering for my candidate.
I, along with 1500 others, trudged to the opening of the Obama Headquarters in West L.A. on Motor about two weeks ago. Listened to some great speeches by Eric Garcetti and Mark Ridley-Thomas. And we heard from state officers for the campaign.
It was inspiring.
A few days later I found myself cherry picking time to volunteer. My days have been unusually free, what with the unemployment and choice of acting as an actual career and all.
At one point I got hungry and I left to get something to eat.
Near the office.
In West. L.A.
You know the area I'm talking about. It's just below Cheviot Hills, that sort of sister to Beverly Hills section south of Century City that no one ever knows about or talks about or goes to. It just exists, as though if it doesn't make any noise no one will bother it.
Motor is that street that we all cross at some point in your travels in the sprawl. Either you got confused on National, with it's turns and curves or you thought you were on Westwood and you just plain weren't or you decided to cut through town when you came out of that audition for The Unit at Fox and kept going south on...you guessed it...Motor.
The trouble with this area of town, besides the fact that it's either impossible to find or it's just down the street, is that there is, at first glance, no place to eat.
I'm sure there are some fast food joints on Venice had I really searched, but I couldn't. I didn't have the time (Had to get back to calling angry Republicans in Nevada, you know) and I needed to get something fast and easy.
That was when I found Harvey's Sandwiches, with it's big sign on Palms advertising it's sandwich menu. Pastrami being at the forefront.
I loves me a good Pastrami. Johnnie's Pastrami, both of them, though not related, are responsible for some o the best taste experiences I've ever had. As well as the worst food-coma-hangover since college.
So, it was easy to see why I might be enticed.
I was, at first, charmed by this courageous little hole in the wall. It reminded me of Galco, the transformed supermarket-now-soda pop shop in Glassell Park. Like it was supposed to be something else but function followed form and this was what they were stuck with.
Yes, the cooking area is blocked by venetian blinds. That's strange but I've seen worse.
Yes, the storage/cleaning area is clearly visible through an opened doorway right next to the dining area. Hey, I'm not eating IN there, so who cares, really?
Yes, the menu signage look like it was purchased from a company that takes your name and logo and puts it on garishly oversaturated photographs of food that could, from a certain angle, look like your cook whipped it up. Advertising is hard. I know.
But, then there was the food. Ambience be damned (and it is) let's get to that Pastrami Sandwich with fries!
Or, I should say, let's sink our teeth into that--
Waitaminnit, is Pastrami supposed to crunch?
If it is burnt to almost a tasteless jerky, then yes.
This was barely a sandwich. It was more like a tasteless, salted meat product, on a toasted stale bun, slathered with condiments next to a bed of Ore Ida potatoes, fryalated to cholesterol-inducing overdoneness. The kind of fry that, when you bite in, your mouth is greeted with a generous promise of salted potato which is then immedaitely replaced by a splash of oil, fat and grease.
It was terrible.
Thank GOD the menu informed me that there was NO MSG!
Whew! Had me worried there for a second. After all, the first thing I tell EVERY sandwich maker, from Pasadena to Venice is, "No MSG on that Turkey Footlong, fucker!"
This is a shout out to restaurateurs in the LA area: There is no good place to eat on Motor between Palms and Venice and probably further. Open something and put this ptomaine festival out of business.
Background music: Generic top 40 pop and R&B crap with a 13 inch television on, sound off, on top of a beverage vend.
Suggested background music: Fox News.
I, along with 1500 others, trudged to the opening of the Obama Headquarters in West L.A. on Motor about two weeks ago. Listened to some great speeches by Eric Garcetti and Mark Ridley-Thomas. And we heard from state officers for the campaign.
It was inspiring.
A few days later I found myself cherry picking time to volunteer. My days have been unusually free, what with the unemployment and choice of acting as an actual career and all.
At one point I got hungry and I left to get something to eat.
Near the office.
In West. L.A.
You know the area I'm talking about. It's just below Cheviot Hills, that sort of sister to Beverly Hills section south of Century City that no one ever knows about or talks about or goes to. It just exists, as though if it doesn't make any noise no one will bother it.
Motor is that street that we all cross at some point in your travels in the sprawl. Either you got confused on National, with it's turns and curves or you thought you were on Westwood and you just plain weren't or you decided to cut through town when you came out of that audition for The Unit at Fox and kept going south on...you guessed it...Motor.
The trouble with this area of town, besides the fact that it's either impossible to find or it's just down the street, is that there is, at first glance, no place to eat.
I'm sure there are some fast food joints on Venice had I really searched, but I couldn't. I didn't have the time (Had to get back to calling angry Republicans in Nevada, you know) and I needed to get something fast and easy.
That was when I found Harvey's Sandwiches, with it's big sign on Palms advertising it's sandwich menu. Pastrami being at the forefront.
I loves me a good Pastrami. Johnnie's Pastrami, both of them, though not related, are responsible for some o the best taste experiences I've ever had. As well as the worst food-coma-hangover since college.
So, it was easy to see why I might be enticed.
I was, at first, charmed by this courageous little hole in the wall. It reminded me of Galco, the transformed supermarket-now-soda pop shop in Glassell Park. Like it was supposed to be something else but function followed form and this was what they were stuck with.
Yes, the cooking area is blocked by venetian blinds. That's strange but I've seen worse.
Yes, the storage/cleaning area is clearly visible through an opened doorway right next to the dining area. Hey, I'm not eating IN there, so who cares, really?
Yes, the menu signage look like it was purchased from a company that takes your name and logo and puts it on garishly oversaturated photographs of food that could, from a certain angle, look like your cook whipped it up. Advertising is hard. I know.
But, then there was the food. Ambience be damned (and it is) let's get to that Pastrami Sandwich with fries!
Or, I should say, let's sink our teeth into that--
Waitaminnit, is Pastrami supposed to crunch?
If it is burnt to almost a tasteless jerky, then yes.
This was barely a sandwich. It was more like a tasteless, salted meat product, on a toasted stale bun, slathered with condiments next to a bed of Ore Ida potatoes, fryalated to cholesterol-inducing overdoneness. The kind of fry that, when you bite in, your mouth is greeted with a generous promise of salted potato which is then immedaitely replaced by a splash of oil, fat and grease.
It was terrible.
Thank GOD the menu informed me that there was NO MSG!
Whew! Had me worried there for a second. After all, the first thing I tell EVERY sandwich maker, from Pasadena to Venice is, "No MSG on that Turkey Footlong, fucker!"
This is a shout out to restaurateurs in the LA area: There is no good place to eat on Motor between Palms and Venice and probably further. Open something and put this ptomaine festival out of business.
Background music: Generic top 40 pop and R&B crap with a 13 inch television on, sound off, on top of a beverage vend.
Suggested background music: Fox News.
Barack Obama and the least offensive ad in many a year.
The excellent website Living Room Candidate contains over 300 presidential ads from Eisenhower/Stevenson to today.
It is edifying. It is saddening. It shows just how effective Madison Ave has become in shaping our leaders' messages and, in a very real and organic way, it shows the evolution of the attack ad. From the spark that was the nuclear bomb for Johnson all the way to McCain's grossly disturbing distortion of Obama's sexual predator education reform.
One ad stood out among others to be as moving to me as Johnson's bomb was scary and the "Morning In America" was heartstring-tugging.
It's this one. And watching it, at 12:30 in the morning two things happened to me. I wondered just where the hell this guy has been for the past 2 weeks and will he ever really come back?
And I cried. Real tears. The kind the crew on Rescue Me would torment a Probie for.
I've seen it probably half a dozen times and it always seemed....well...nice.
But, do yourself a favor. Listen to McCain talk about Obama. Listen to the Republican talking heads try to spin things around so McCain and his prom date try to sound more and more like Democrats.
Then, watch this again and see if it doesn't make you wanna run out and volunteer. Or weep for hope. Or believe that maybe, just maybe, one candidate really did try to take the high road. And, if we're lucky and we approach the better versions of ourselves for just one short day, that road can lead to a better tomorrow.
Yes. We can.
Neat sidenote: I went to college with the director and didn't know it was him. Coolio!
It is edifying. It is saddening. It shows just how effective Madison Ave has become in shaping our leaders' messages and, in a very real and organic way, it shows the evolution of the attack ad. From the spark that was the nuclear bomb for Johnson all the way to McCain's grossly disturbing distortion of Obama's sexual predator education reform.
One ad stood out among others to be as moving to me as Johnson's bomb was scary and the "Morning In America" was heartstring-tugging.
It's this one. And watching it, at 12:30 in the morning two things happened to me. I wondered just where the hell this guy has been for the past 2 weeks and will he ever really come back?
And I cried. Real tears. The kind the crew on Rescue Me would torment a Probie for.
I've seen it probably half a dozen times and it always seemed....well...nice.
But, do yourself a favor. Listen to McCain talk about Obama. Listen to the Republican talking heads try to spin things around so McCain and his prom date try to sound more and more like Democrats.
Then, watch this again and see if it doesn't make you wanna run out and volunteer. Or weep for hope. Or believe that maybe, just maybe, one candidate really did try to take the high road. And, if we're lucky and we approach the better versions of ourselves for just one short day, that road can lead to a better tomorrow.
Yes. We can.
Neat sidenote: I went to college with the director and didn't know it was him. Coolio!
Monday, September 15, 2008
Camp Obama. Yeah, I guess we can.
Towards the middle of the day I had mixed emotions.
To say that a grassroots political training camp is a playground for chaos is an understatement.
Sadly, its our fault: We're democrats. We don't really like to take orders. We ask questions. We question authority. So, it takes twice as long to inform us of stuff because we have to ask ask ask......
We started day two (I am by passing Day One because it really was nothing more than a deep and intensive education in personal telemarketing. That said, it was invaluable but I could have learned it in half the time)
We started Day Two by being divided into Congressional Districts. This was immediately a problem.
While I was standing on line to get coffee with my friend, Kara, a pair of hands reached between us, cutting in front of 9 others, and grabbed for the coffee. "Well, no one's pouring from this one!" she said.
But we were about to reach for it.
Ah, fuck it. We let it go. It was contentious and, hell, there are over 400 people here. I'll never see her agai--
She was sitting directly in front of me in my CD table.
She's a force to be reckoned with, I'll say and I mean that in every good way possible. But she wanted to be the team leader. So did I. Because, well, I think I would be good at it. I think when I have produced plays I've been exceptional in the delegating and overseeing and I have learned a lot about being grateful in those situations. So much so that I think that's partially the reason that the foundation (www.lizzielulu.org) has taken off the way it has.
But I didn't want to fight her. Let her have it. Yawwnnn. let's start the day.
4 hours in it was apparent that we're not really learning all that much. Oh, there's a TON of information, but it's so dry and dull and, well, seemingly pointless.
As we were breaking for lunch it occurred to me that my district, which covers Silverlake, Los Feliz, down through a narrow corridor in Hollywood, to just about everything below the 10 from East LA (East of USC by far) all the way to Marina Del Rey, was too big. We needed to be cut up. If we were forming alliances and relationships with people in in our district with whom we were going to work, it should be with someone nearby, right?
I went to the woman in charge of that only to discover that she was furiously working on how to parcel up the city.
After she and I worked on that, the task was mine to tell the 50 or so of us and redeploy to new seating.
Oy. That's a treat. Lemme tell ya. If it were Republicans then, no problem, they would just do it. But it's democrats. They have questions, remember? It was a nightmare.
BUT
We got it done. We had our tables put together! Order from Chaos! I was now in Congressional District 33 South East!
Maybe I could be in charge now---
"We've been running CD33 SOUTH since the primaries" said these two diminutive older women in ObamaGear. "We've got phone banks running on Crenshaw. We're having a meeting on Thursday."
Ooooookay.
On the bright side, we don't have to go looking for a place to hold phone banking, it's already set up. In fact, it's kind of like being hired to work in an office, with limited experience but being put in higher charge than the workers. except that I will be busting my ass too.
By the end of the day, we were back to making calls.
We're calling Nevada, because we're close to it and we think we can turn it with our ground game.
Judging from the hang ups "I'm voting for McCain!" click. "We're Republicans!" click, it's a daunting effort. But, somehow, it all sunk in.
I started using my own personal experiences (family car dealerships hurting because of lost marketshare to hybrids, something that could have been prevented had McCain NOT voted against certain bills and had the Big Three listened to Obama. Or my experience with being labeled and knowing how hard it is to defend one's self from a negative attack smear) and you know what? It started to work! I actually turned a republican in Nevada from a "leaning McCain" to "Leaning Obama".
See, they hate John McCain. Their just scared of new. Scared of black. Scared of voting for the left. Scared.
So, we'll turn them.
I will be hitting the road in October for a weekend to canvass in Las Vegas. I have a friend who will be spending the whole month there. It's exciting.
You can be a a part of this. In fact you should. If you believe in a candidate as I do Barack. If you think this election is important, the most important of my lifetime, I think, then you can spend two hours making calls. It's pretty easy.
This really is the most amazing grassroots and empowering political experience I have had. It really feels like we're making a difference.
If you want to get involved, visit barackobama.com and find out where the office is in your area. Or, and especially if you live in LA, call me, email me or call 310-836-2009 for Obama Headquarters in Los Angeles.
We really can make this happen, you know. It's pretty cool.
To say that a grassroots political training camp is a playground for chaos is an understatement.
Sadly, its our fault: We're democrats. We don't really like to take orders. We ask questions. We question authority. So, it takes twice as long to inform us of stuff because we have to ask ask ask......
We started day two (I am by passing Day One because it really was nothing more than a deep and intensive education in personal telemarketing. That said, it was invaluable but I could have learned it in half the time)
We started Day Two by being divided into Congressional Districts. This was immediately a problem.
While I was standing on line to get coffee with my friend, Kara, a pair of hands reached between us, cutting in front of 9 others, and grabbed for the coffee. "Well, no one's pouring from this one!" she said.
But we were about to reach for it.
Ah, fuck it. We let it go. It was contentious and, hell, there are over 400 people here. I'll never see her agai--
She was sitting directly in front of me in my CD table.
She's a force to be reckoned with, I'll say and I mean that in every good way possible. But she wanted to be the team leader. So did I. Because, well, I think I would be good at it. I think when I have produced plays I've been exceptional in the delegating and overseeing and I have learned a lot about being grateful in those situations. So much so that I think that's partially the reason that the foundation (www.lizzielulu.org) has taken off the way it has.
But I didn't want to fight her. Let her have it. Yawwnnn. let's start the day.
4 hours in it was apparent that we're not really learning all that much. Oh, there's a TON of information, but it's so dry and dull and, well, seemingly pointless.
As we were breaking for lunch it occurred to me that my district, which covers Silverlake, Los Feliz, down through a narrow corridor in Hollywood, to just about everything below the 10 from East LA (East of USC by far) all the way to Marina Del Rey, was too big. We needed to be cut up. If we were forming alliances and relationships with people in in our district with whom we were going to work, it should be with someone nearby, right?
I went to the woman in charge of that only to discover that she was furiously working on how to parcel up the city.
After she and I worked on that, the task was mine to tell the 50 or so of us and redeploy to new seating.
Oy. That's a treat. Lemme tell ya. If it were Republicans then, no problem, they would just do it. But it's democrats. They have questions, remember? It was a nightmare.
BUT
We got it done. We had our tables put together! Order from Chaos! I was now in Congressional District 33 South East!
Maybe I could be in charge now---
"We've been running CD33 SOUTH since the primaries" said these two diminutive older women in ObamaGear. "We've got phone banks running on Crenshaw. We're having a meeting on Thursday."
Ooooookay.
On the bright side, we don't have to go looking for a place to hold phone banking, it's already set up. In fact, it's kind of like being hired to work in an office, with limited experience but being put in higher charge than the workers. except that I will be busting my ass too.
By the end of the day, we were back to making calls.
We're calling Nevada, because we're close to it and we think we can turn it with our ground game.
Judging from the hang ups "I'm voting for McCain!" click. "We're Republicans!" click, it's a daunting effort. But, somehow, it all sunk in.
I started using my own personal experiences (family car dealerships hurting because of lost marketshare to hybrids, something that could have been prevented had McCain NOT voted against certain bills and had the Big Three listened to Obama. Or my experience with being labeled and knowing how hard it is to defend one's self from a negative attack smear) and you know what? It started to work! I actually turned a republican in Nevada from a "leaning McCain" to "Leaning Obama".
See, they hate John McCain. Their just scared of new. Scared of black. Scared of voting for the left. Scared.
So, we'll turn them.
I will be hitting the road in October for a weekend to canvass in Las Vegas. I have a friend who will be spending the whole month there. It's exciting.
You can be a a part of this. In fact you should. If you believe in a candidate as I do Barack. If you think this election is important, the most important of my lifetime, I think, then you can spend two hours making calls. It's pretty easy.
This really is the most amazing grassroots and empowering political experience I have had. It really feels like we're making a difference.
If you want to get involved, visit barackobama.com and find out where the office is in your area. Or, and especially if you live in LA, call me, email me or call 310-836-2009 for Obama Headquarters in Los Angeles.
We really can make this happen, you know. It's pretty cool.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Listening Post: Aerosmith - Done With Mirrors
Joe Perry's back! Does it matter?
Aerosmith - Done With Mirrors - 1985 (Buy It)
The band is "Done with mirrors", they would have us believe. They like the amateur puns, these guys. In this case, we are to believe that they are done with using mirrors to cut their cocaine and that they are BACK!
Are they?
From the opening track, "Let the Music Do The Talking", one might believe so. Sadly, that track is actually a holdover from The Joe Perry Project and it does succeed in kickstarting this record.
After that everything sounds so forced. Like the band is trying to show their relevance but its just not doing it for me. The licks are lazy. The lyrics are abysmal (My Fist your Face? The reason a Dog??? Hate women much, Stevie?) There's no nuance here, there are really no songs, either, at least nothing you would ever want to hear again.
I am definitely in the minority here. A quick check of Wikipedia shows that Allmusic.com says that this is the better album compared to the next, starmaking one. Others give it a good review. And they all uniformly despise Rock in a Hard Place. Well, to each his own.
This is a terrible record. What I would like to do is get a bindle of coke, pour it out on the cover of the cd and cut lines all the while laughing demonically at the irony.
In one year Aerosmith would be elevated to the stratosphere by way of Run-DMC but right here, in 1985, if I was an Aerosmith fan, after listening to Done With Mirrors I would have been Done With Aerosmith. (See what I did there? Can I name your next record, Steve?)
I can't wait to delete this thing.
Grade D -
A Side: Let the Music Do The Talking
BlindSide: Nothing
DownSide:8 other tracks.
Aerosmith - Done With Mirrors - 1985 (Buy It)
The band is "Done with mirrors", they would have us believe. They like the amateur puns, these guys. In this case, we are to believe that they are done with using mirrors to cut their cocaine and that they are BACK!
Are they?
From the opening track, "Let the Music Do The Talking", one might believe so. Sadly, that track is actually a holdover from The Joe Perry Project and it does succeed in kickstarting this record.
After that everything sounds so forced. Like the band is trying to show their relevance but its just not doing it for me. The licks are lazy. The lyrics are abysmal (My Fist your Face? The reason a Dog??? Hate women much, Stevie?) There's no nuance here, there are really no songs, either, at least nothing you would ever want to hear again.
I am definitely in the minority here. A quick check of Wikipedia shows that Allmusic.com says that this is the better album compared to the next, starmaking one. Others give it a good review. And they all uniformly despise Rock in a Hard Place. Well, to each his own.
This is a terrible record. What I would like to do is get a bindle of coke, pour it out on the cover of the cd and cut lines all the while laughing demonically at the irony.
In one year Aerosmith would be elevated to the stratosphere by way of Run-DMC but right here, in 1985, if I was an Aerosmith fan, after listening to Done With Mirrors I would have been Done With Aerosmith. (See what I did there? Can I name your next record, Steve?)
I can't wait to delete this thing.
Grade D -
A Side: Let the Music Do The Talking
BlindSide: Nothing
DownSide:8 other tracks.
listening Post: Aerosmith - Rock in a Hard Place
Halfway through the Aerosmith catalog we finally reach the '80s......
Aerosmith - Rock in a Hard Place - 1982 (buy it)
Joe Perry takes his big licks and leaves the band for his own form of superstardom. Anyone remember The Joe Perry Project? Yeah, yeah, but do you own the music? Didn't think so.
Then Brad Whitford leaves and takes HIS riffs with him somewhere during the making of this album.
Not a very auspicious beginning to the new decade for Tyler, et al.
Now, to be fair, the '80s were a difficult time for big, loud rock. Sure, AC/DC's Back in Black was a monster but that was the end of the era. By the time this album came out, we had already dealt with Punk, New Wave and the cresting of an R&B avalanche on the horizon. I don't think there really was a place for this record to begin with.
Not that Aerosmith has ever really broken any real ground, anyway.
All that said, Rock in a Hard Place is easily the band's best work since Rocks.
It's pretty generic stuff, but it isn't as crass as some of the last work. It's dirty (Jailbait) and, at times, experimental (Prelude to Joanie & Joanie's Butterfly), and it's got something that the last two records didn't: A need to prove itself. Tyler and the boys don't fully succeed on that level, but they get damned close. "Bolivian Ragamuffin" & "Lightning Strikes" are closer to form than they band has been in about a half decade. In fact, I would put Bolivian in the top 20 of the band's tracks....so far.
There are the tired and rote attempts at big band blooze, like the title track and, more so, the closer, "Push Comes to Shove", which both fail but are nowhere near the abortion that is the band's cover of "Cry Me A River".
All told, Rock in a Hard Place is no Rocks but it's not the worst thing I've heard from the band, or from most bands, actually.
Grade: B
A Side: Lightning Strikes
BlindSide: Jailbait, Bolivian Ragamuffin, Bitches Brew & the Joanie Suite
DownSide: Cry Me A River. Yipes.
Aerosmith - Rock in a Hard Place - 1982 (buy it)
Joe Perry takes his big licks and leaves the band for his own form of superstardom. Anyone remember The Joe Perry Project? Yeah, yeah, but do you own the music? Didn't think so.
Then Brad Whitford leaves and takes HIS riffs with him somewhere during the making of this album.
Not a very auspicious beginning to the new decade for Tyler, et al.
Now, to be fair, the '80s were a difficult time for big, loud rock. Sure, AC/DC's Back in Black was a monster but that was the end of the era. By the time this album came out, we had already dealt with Punk, New Wave and the cresting of an R&B avalanche on the horizon. I don't think there really was a place for this record to begin with.
Not that Aerosmith has ever really broken any real ground, anyway.
All that said, Rock in a Hard Place is easily the band's best work since Rocks.
It's pretty generic stuff, but it isn't as crass as some of the last work. It's dirty (Jailbait) and, at times, experimental (Prelude to Joanie & Joanie's Butterfly), and it's got something that the last two records didn't: A need to prove itself. Tyler and the boys don't fully succeed on that level, but they get damned close. "Bolivian Ragamuffin" & "Lightning Strikes" are closer to form than they band has been in about a half decade. In fact, I would put Bolivian in the top 20 of the band's tracks....so far.
There are the tired and rote attempts at big band blooze, like the title track and, more so, the closer, "Push Comes to Shove", which both fail but are nowhere near the abortion that is the band's cover of "Cry Me A River".
All told, Rock in a Hard Place is no Rocks but it's not the worst thing I've heard from the band, or from most bands, actually.
Grade: B
A Side: Lightning Strikes
BlindSide: Jailbait, Bolivian Ragamuffin, Bitches Brew & the Joanie Suite
DownSide: Cry Me A River. Yipes.
Listening Post: Aerosmith - Night in the Ruts
We continue the journey (hey! Journey! Maybe......) of blues/rock with the boys from Boston.
Aerosmith - Night in the Ruts - 1979 (buy it)
Night in the Ruts (Right in the Nuts, get it? Huh? Actually I didn't until just now.....damn, I hate being stupid.) starts off with a big, lick heavy blues breaker that sounds dangerously similar at times to Draw The Line. "No Surprize" gets things rolling and gave me hope. Hope that maybe the energy, the sweaty, take no prisoners attitude of Rocks and Toys in the Attic would be back.
And it does.
For three songs.
Chiquita and the cover Remember (Walkin in the Sand) drive this thing and then...and then......
"Cheese Cake".
Oh, dear me.
Let's talk about the music before we get to the content.
A blatantly faux-sleaze/blues piece at best. Not impossible to listen to, just difficult. But then you get to that chorus. "Got my fingers in the pie" No. No, no, no. Porn rock. If Warrant can be castigated for "Cherry Pie" then Aerosmith needs to be taken to task for this one. I'm no prude. I loves me some porn. Classic, gonzo, 120 second blasts (he he he, he said "blasts") on XTube. Great. But this isn't porn. It's giggling 15 year olds behind the auditorium, sneaking cigarettes, shoving their fingers in your face and telling you to "Smell." because he just made out with the school slut.
It's bad. Bad bad bad.
The album doesn't really recover after that. It settles into a pretty slo-blooze vibe and I guess that I should appreciate that on say, "Reefer Headed Woman", (Another cover) but I'm so exhausted by that point that I don't know how I'm supposed to react.
Night in the Ruts just isn't fun. The closing rock ballad, obligatory by now, "Mia" can't save this thing. It just goes down in a blaze of "has-been".
Grade C-
A Side: No Surprize
BlindSide: Chiquita & Remember
Downside: Cheese Cake.
Aerosmith - Night in the Ruts - 1979 (buy it)
Night in the Ruts (Right in the Nuts, get it? Huh? Actually I didn't until just now.....damn, I hate being stupid.) starts off with a big, lick heavy blues breaker that sounds dangerously similar at times to Draw The Line. "No Surprize" gets things rolling and gave me hope. Hope that maybe the energy, the sweaty, take no prisoners attitude of Rocks and Toys in the Attic would be back.
And it does.
For three songs.
Chiquita and the cover Remember (Walkin in the Sand) drive this thing and then...and then......
"Cheese Cake".
Oh, dear me.
Let's talk about the music before we get to the content.
A blatantly faux-sleaze/blues piece at best. Not impossible to listen to, just difficult. But then you get to that chorus. "Got my fingers in the pie" No. No, no, no. Porn rock. If Warrant can be castigated for "Cherry Pie" then Aerosmith needs to be taken to task for this one. I'm no prude. I loves me some porn. Classic, gonzo, 120 second blasts (he he he, he said "blasts") on XTube. Great. But this isn't porn. It's giggling 15 year olds behind the auditorium, sneaking cigarettes, shoving their fingers in your face and telling you to "Smell." because he just made out with the school slut.
It's bad. Bad bad bad.
The album doesn't really recover after that. It settles into a pretty slo-blooze vibe and I guess that I should appreciate that on say, "Reefer Headed Woman", (Another cover) but I'm so exhausted by that point that I don't know how I'm supposed to react.
Night in the Ruts just isn't fun. The closing rock ballad, obligatory by now, "Mia" can't save this thing. It just goes down in a blaze of "has-been".
Grade C-
A Side: No Surprize
BlindSide: Chiquita & Remember
Downside: Cheese Cake.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
What is the most dangerous person on the planet?
A dumb person who thinks they're smart. Smarter than you and above reproach.
Watching Sarah Palin I was struck by how much she reminded me of my ex-wife. A woman who once responded to the request of the fire department to cut 6 foot high dry brush as it was a fire hazard with an indignant "Who the fuck are they to tell me what I have to do?!?"
Incredible.
And watching Palin I realized the cadence in her voice, the constant repetition of Gibson's first name, (almost an act of pedantic behavior), and the attempt to use multi-syllabic words to appear smart, no matter how phonetic the pronunciation (especially sad when butted up against words like "nuculer") was something I was very familiar with:
A moron who believes they are smarter than you.
i.e. The most dangerous person in the world.
Watch for yourself.
Be afraid, America. Be very afraid.
Watching Sarah Palin I was struck by how much she reminded me of my ex-wife. A woman who once responded to the request of the fire department to cut 6 foot high dry brush as it was a fire hazard with an indignant "Who the fuck are they to tell me what I have to do?!?"
Incredible.
And watching Palin I realized the cadence in her voice, the constant repetition of Gibson's first name, (almost an act of pedantic behavior), and the attempt to use multi-syllabic words to appear smart, no matter how phonetic the pronunciation (especially sad when butted up against words like "nuculer") was something I was very familiar with:
A moron who believes they are smarter than you.
i.e. The most dangerous person in the world.
Watch for yourself.
Be afraid, America. Be very afraid.
listening Post: Aerosmith - Draw the Line
A break from politics....which really busted up my music appreciation summer...and back to the catalog of Aerosmith.
Aerosmith - Draw the Line - 1977 (Buy it)
I've listened to this record twice now. Once at a coffee shop and again on a ride home. Both times I had a dramatic response.
The first track, "Draw the Line" had a familiarity about it, an aggression and jaunty and sexy sludge ride of classic rock. The production was flat and boring and ugly as the rest of what I heard of the album. And that's the problem. I 'phased out' each time. I can't tell you what song was what after the title track. The whole endeavor sounds like it was recorded by people whose audio sensitivity might been compromised, perhaps drugs, perhaps alcohol. But I DON'T REMEMBER any of the rest of this album.
When I phased back in on occasion I wouldn't hate what I was hearing but, damnit, I can't remember any of it.
Maybe "Sight for Sore Eyes" has some familiarity factor, be it that the song has been played on classic rock or it just sounds like 20 other Aerosmith tracks.
This is a sad record. No one seems to be all that interested in being here.
Least of all me.
Grade D
A Side: Draw the Line
BlindSide: The Hand that Feeds (which sounds like it was written and recorded right after Draw the Line and nobody remember that they had mined this territory already.
Downside: Get it Up. (Really? Very mature, guys.)
Aerosmith - Draw the Line - 1977 (Buy it)
I've listened to this record twice now. Once at a coffee shop and again on a ride home. Both times I had a dramatic response.
The first track, "Draw the Line" had a familiarity about it, an aggression and jaunty and sexy sludge ride of classic rock. The production was flat and boring and ugly as the rest of what I heard of the album. And that's the problem. I 'phased out' each time. I can't tell you what song was what after the title track. The whole endeavor sounds like it was recorded by people whose audio sensitivity might been compromised, perhaps drugs, perhaps alcohol. But I DON'T REMEMBER any of the rest of this album.
When I phased back in on occasion I wouldn't hate what I was hearing but, damnit, I can't remember any of it.
Maybe "Sight for Sore Eyes" has some familiarity factor, be it that the song has been played on classic rock or it just sounds like 20 other Aerosmith tracks.
This is a sad record. No one seems to be all that interested in being here.
Least of all me.
Grade D
A Side: Draw the Line
BlindSide: The Hand that Feeds (which sounds like it was written and recorded right after Draw the Line and nobody remember that they had mined this territory already.
Downside: Get it Up. (Really? Very mature, guys.)
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
An Olbermann Special Comment
It's full of invective and vitriol. He spews and spits. I am sort of loathe to post it because it's SO partisan. But, at this time, when we Obamacrats are feeling...a little lost and like our guy maybe can't get to the finish line, I thought, what the hell. After all, I was as offended by the images used by the nazi par--I mean the fear mong----I mean, the GOP at their convention as Keith was.
It's 8 minutes long. The most aggressive part is at the very end.
I might take it down. I don't know. Like I said. I'm of two minds about whether to post it or not. I just am so angry right now.
It's 8 minutes long. The most aggressive part is at the very end.
I might take it down. I don't know. Like I said. I'm of two minds about whether to post it or not. I just am so angry right now.
Journalists doing their job? WTF?
I noticed something interesting today. I was at the gym and I was watching CNN and Rick Sanchez 
(www.twitter.com/ricksanchezcnn) showed footage of John McCain using the term "Lipstick on a Pig".
Then I watched as Contessa Brewer
on MSNBC wouldn't let a question of hers go unanswered and spun.
Then I saw Norah O'Donnell do the same thing.
Then I saw Chris Matthews
hold up a book written by McCain's Strategist called, of all things, "Lipstick on a Pig."
I know, I know, MSNBC is in the tank for the left. This isn't about that (although is it so bad to have a leftist version of FOX?)
This is about journalists refusing to let the spinmeisters have control.
When a journalist asks a question and the political hack answers by changing the subject it is the DUTY of the journalist to point that out and bring it back to the question.
It's not bad journalism.When they let the spinners change the subject then they may as well be handing them a platform for their talking points.
This time, today, four journalists got it right.
I need to get out more.
(www.twitter.com/ricksanchezcnn) showed footage of John McCain using the term "Lipstick on a Pig". Then I watched as Contessa Brewer
on MSNBC wouldn't let a question of hers go unanswered and spun.Then I saw Norah O'Donnell do the same thing.
Then I saw Chris Matthews
hold up a book written by McCain's Strategist called, of all things, "Lipstick on a Pig."I know, I know, MSNBC is in the tank for the left. This isn't about that (although is it so bad to have a leftist version of FOX?)
This is about journalists refusing to let the spinmeisters have control.
When a journalist asks a question and the political hack answers by changing the subject it is the DUTY of the journalist to point that out and bring it back to the question.
It's not bad journalism.When they let the spinners change the subject then they may as well be handing them a platform for their talking points.
This time, today, four journalists got it right.
I need to get out more.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
The Difference Between Democrats and Republicans made simple.
Republican: I want to talk to you about the differences between the parties but first you need to know: You're an Asshole.
You: What?
R: You're an asshole. We'll get to the topic but first I need you to understand that you are an asshole and a moron. Got it?
You: Huh? Um...
R: Shut up. You're stupid. When you understand that we can continue. Got it?
You: Yeah, I think...When you say, stupid...
R: Shut up, dick. Okay. Now that we've established that you're an asshole we can have this converstaion.
___________________________
Democrat: I want to talk to you about the differences between the parties but first you need to know: You're an Asshole.
You: What?
D: You have to understand, you're an asshole. That's okay. I can be an asshole too, sometimes. I understand.
You: You mean...
D: Yes. Right now I'm not the asshole, you are, but sometimes I am the asshole and I can empathize. In fact, let's just say, for the sake of argument, that I AM being an asshole right now.
You: But you're not?
D: You know what? I am. There. I said it. I'm not as much of an asshole as you but I am sort of being one right now and I get it. Okay? So, let's talk about this. Together. Like a pair of stupid assholes.
You: Um....okay.
D: Oh, yeah. Vote for me? Please?
There you have it.
You: What?
R: You're an asshole. We'll get to the topic but first I need you to understand that you are an asshole and a moron. Got it?
You: Huh? Um...
R: Shut up. You're stupid. When you understand that we can continue. Got it?
You: Yeah, I think...When you say, stupid...
R: Shut up, dick. Okay. Now that we've established that you're an asshole we can have this converstaion.
___________________________
Democrat: I want to talk to you about the differences between the parties but first you need to know: You're an Asshole.
You: What?
D: You have to understand, you're an asshole. That's okay. I can be an asshole too, sometimes. I understand.
You: You mean...
D: Yes. Right now I'm not the asshole, you are, but sometimes I am the asshole and I can empathize. In fact, let's just say, for the sake of argument, that I AM being an asshole right now.
You: But you're not?
D: You know what? I am. There. I said it. I'm not as much of an asshole as you but I am sort of being one right now and I get it. Okay? So, let's talk about this. Together. Like a pair of stupid assholes.
You: Um....okay.
D: Oh, yeah. Vote for me? Please?
There you have it.
The Real Swift Boat.
What is the definition of insanity? To do something over and over again and expect a different result, right?
How about to respond gently and dismissive to a media machine that knows how to create sound bytes, alter the story and shift the focus? That would be insane, right? Given that it would be the third time in a row that a democrat made that his response.
Isn’t that what we were hoping Barack Obama would NOT do? Isn’t he supposed to be savvy and smart and “get it”? Then why is he fumfering through answers on Olbermann and O’Reilly? Why isn’t he reclaiming his Change mantra?
It isn’t enough to laugh at their tactics to a crowd of fellow-thinkers. Obama needs to call the liars on the carpet when they don’t tell the truth. Not act as though he (and, subsequently, we) are above the fray.
We are. We are better than that.
The trouble is, the focused targets of the message, the disenfranchised evangelicals and sockey moms, are not. They like being in power. They like being right. And the new McCain message plays right to that.
It will stick. If we let it.
We can’t sit around waiting for Swift Boat ads. You know why?
Because Sarah Palin IS the swift boat.
The conversation isn’t about health care. It isn’t about the economy. It isn’t about issues. But, most importantly, it isn’t about MCCAIN.
Not anymore.
“They didn’t want to run against Muskie. Look who they’re running against….”
Have we learned nothing in 30+ years? Why don’t you dig out that old VHS copy of All The President’s Men and bone up on how these people work? Because nothing has changed.
The Republicans, in a masterstroke, have changed the conversation. They have used advertising, doublespeak, lies, theatrics, and made it happen.
All we are talking about is this kooky governor. This would be fine if:
A) She were running for president. She’s not, so she’s not the story.
B) We were talking about her in regards to the poor, desperate decision making of a would be president.
But we’re not. We’re in love with the narrative. And we need to stop because we are going to lose. And I think that this election is dangerously important. Obama represents everything that the other side does not: hope, intelligence, charisma, world-view, unity. If he loses then what chance do we really have?
How can the third lowest ranking Annapolis grad beat out the first African American on the Harvard Law Review? What has happened to our country?
I have a message for Barack.
Yo, Barry. I WANT to volunteer. I did phone banking just the other day. I want to go in there and fight for you. But you gotta fight for me. For us. You gotta find a way to shut this down. You said you know how to throw a jab or two when it’s needed.
Do it.
In the end they will be talking about how Sarah Palin changed the conversation, the democrats never got traction because they didn’t respond in time or in kind and, years from now, your position as Law Professor at some Ivy League school will trump your status as the man who almost changed the world.
Damn it, man. Make me want to canvas. Make me WANT to fight for you! I’m so tired of losing to this. If we lost to the better person, great, I demur. But we are losing to Mad Men. We are losing to better branding. They are turning us into New Coke when it is clear that they are the old Coke in a different can.
My head is spinning. I saw a comment on some blog the other day imploring the same thing and adding, “Don’t make Jon Stewart do all the heavy lifting.”
He’s right. But you can take something from Jon. Take that side by side comparison of the acceptance speech last week and Bush’s ’00 speech. The one where the two of them were saying THE EXACT SAME THINGS. That will hammer your message home. That will shut down the “McCain as change” argument. Because how can you argue with it?
It’s their own words.
Use them. Do it now. Before it’s too late.
How about to respond gently and dismissive to a media machine that knows how to create sound bytes, alter the story and shift the focus? That would be insane, right? Given that it would be the third time in a row that a democrat made that his response.
Isn’t that what we were hoping Barack Obama would NOT do? Isn’t he supposed to be savvy and smart and “get it”? Then why is he fumfering through answers on Olbermann and O’Reilly? Why isn’t he reclaiming his Change mantra?
It isn’t enough to laugh at their tactics to a crowd of fellow-thinkers. Obama needs to call the liars on the carpet when they don’t tell the truth. Not act as though he (and, subsequently, we) are above the fray.
We are. We are better than that.
The trouble is, the focused targets of the message, the disenfranchised evangelicals and sockey moms, are not. They like being in power. They like being right. And the new McCain message plays right to that.
It will stick. If we let it.
We can’t sit around waiting for Swift Boat ads. You know why?
Because Sarah Palin IS the swift boat.
The conversation isn’t about health care. It isn’t about the economy. It isn’t about issues. But, most importantly, it isn’t about MCCAIN.
Not anymore.
“They didn’t want to run against Muskie. Look who they’re running against….”
Have we learned nothing in 30+ years? Why don’t you dig out that old VHS copy of All The President’s Men and bone up on how these people work? Because nothing has changed.
The Republicans, in a masterstroke, have changed the conversation. They have used advertising, doublespeak, lies, theatrics, and made it happen.
All we are talking about is this kooky governor. This would be fine if:
A) She were running for president. She’s not, so she’s not the story.
B) We were talking about her in regards to the poor, desperate decision making of a would be president.
But we’re not. We’re in love with the narrative. And we need to stop because we are going to lose. And I think that this election is dangerously important. Obama represents everything that the other side does not: hope, intelligence, charisma, world-view, unity. If he loses then what chance do we really have?
How can the third lowest ranking Annapolis grad beat out the first African American on the Harvard Law Review? What has happened to our country?
I have a message for Barack.
Yo, Barry. I WANT to volunteer. I did phone banking just the other day. I want to go in there and fight for you. But you gotta fight for me. For us. You gotta find a way to shut this down. You said you know how to throw a jab or two when it’s needed.
Do it.
In the end they will be talking about how Sarah Palin changed the conversation, the democrats never got traction because they didn’t respond in time or in kind and, years from now, your position as Law Professor at some Ivy League school will trump your status as the man who almost changed the world.
Damn it, man. Make me want to canvas. Make me WANT to fight for you! I’m so tired of losing to this. If we lost to the better person, great, I demur. But we are losing to Mad Men. We are losing to better branding. They are turning us into New Coke when it is clear that they are the old Coke in a different can.
My head is spinning. I saw a comment on some blog the other day imploring the same thing and adding, “Don’t make Jon Stewart do all the heavy lifting.”
He’s right. But you can take something from Jon. Take that side by side comparison of the acceptance speech last week and Bush’s ’00 speech. The one where the two of them were saying THE EXACT SAME THINGS. That will hammer your message home. That will shut down the “McCain as change” argument. Because how can you argue with it?
It’s their own words.
Use them. Do it now. Before it’s too late.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Volunteering for Obama
I'm 40 calls in phone banking for BO. The script is really just to determine who people are voting for and if they want more info, we'll send that.
So far?
One answer. An 80 year old supporter on oxygen.
38 no answers
And, believe it or not:
One busy signal.
What year is it in Nevada?
So far?
One answer. An 80 year old supporter on oxygen.
38 no answers
And, believe it or not:
One busy signal.
What year is it in Nevada?
Update:
66 calls
62 No answers/wrong numbers
3 humans - 1. "1000% Obama!" 2. "We're Republicans and we're voting McCain. Thank you." 3. "Obama....."
The third woman was great. had no idea there are any Obama offices in her neighborhood. Gave her email. Was interested in volunteering.
All told. Not a bad first hour.
And yes,
1 busy signal.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Sarah Palin. Capturing the imagination of the next generation?
Zoe loves stickers.
Zoe loves to say "No-o-o!"
Zoe loves to eat peas.
She loves to sit on the counter while I cook.
She loves to dance.
She loves balloons.
But nothing seems to have fascinated my daughter as much as the Sarah Palin issue of Time Magazine.
God help me.
Zoe loves to say "No-o-o!"
Zoe loves to eat peas.
She loves to sit on the counter while I cook.
She loves to dance.
She loves balloons.
But nothing seems to have fascinated my daughter as much as the Sarah Palin issue of Time Magazine.
God help me.
A Loving History of Animation
For weeks now I have "kept unread" an article from Electronic Cerebrectomy on my Google Reader.
Rather than just keep it there I thought, since I have watched the video at least four times, that it should be preserved on my own site as well.
If you have an affection for 2D animation and more than a passing sadness at the by-passing of such an art form take a few minutes and watch this piece. It's a little more affectionate to Walt than would be my preference (I am of a generation that still recalls the term "Mouschwitz") but, that said, it's a pretty terrific piece and I think you will enjoy it.
Rather than just keep it there I thought, since I have watched the video at least four times, that it should be preserved on my own site as well.
If you have an affection for 2D animation and more than a passing sadness at the by-passing of such an art form take a few minutes and watch this piece. It's a little more affectionate to Walt than would be my preference (I am of a generation that still recalls the term "Mouschwitz") but, that said, it's a pretty terrific piece and I think you will enjoy it.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
New Obama Commercial! (?)
If the Obama team doesn't use this (or something like it) then I give up.
Should be run on every network, during every sporting, on every kind of program, in event in every battleground state. Every day.
Should be run on every network, during every sporting, on every kind of program, in event in every battleground state. Every day.
Friday, September 5, 2008
More thoughts on Palin and the new political ideology of crassism
This is the new ideology. Why vet someone when the propaganda and speechwriting can be played for the truth?
Never mind that they steal music.
Never mind that they had no permission to use the image of that middle school.
Never mind that no one has heard her speak beyond the empty rhetoric.
Never mind that they are now saying "More of the same!" in regards to Obama.
Never mind that they have appropriated the "change" mantra.
Or that her husband is a secessionist.
Or that she has flip flopped on the bridge to nowhere.
She never has to answer to any of this because they have decided that the new politics is one where you just take what big brother tells you to.
This is scary scary shit because it's a tactic straight out of a german politicking handbook.
It's not just "politics as usual." It's terrifying.
As though they have decided all bets are off and there is no need for or attempt at integrity.
And the media is letting them do it.
And Obama is letting them do it.
Case in point his appearance on O'Reilly.
O'Reilly was smart. He used perspicacious in an attempt to describe his agreement with Obama's war view. His audience, as John astutely observed, have no idea what he was talking about. So they can't hold his feet to the fire, after all, the word had more than two syllables.
Then he managed to get Obama to admit that the surge had a measure of success. Which, in turn, became raw meat for the lipstick pitbull today at a rally.
And why didn't Obama have a rally the day after? Why did he decide to let them have another day? They didn't afford us the same courtesy.
The gloves are off. The playing field has been leveled and the right has decided it can't win on merits or facts. (The president got 8 minutes as McCain attempts to divorce himself from the previous administration.) So they confiscate Obama's talking points, claim them as their own and use them to bludgeon their opponents.
Rove is a smart guy. He knows that the way to destroy/defeat someone is not to point out their weaknesses but to disarm their strengths.
When it was said by, I think, Clark, that he wasn't sure how being shot down and held prisoner was an adequate proving ground for the presidency, not only was he right, but that is exactly the kind of bullet the right would have used against us. In fact, they did! They made a war hero a zealot last time around.
If Michelle Obama had a baby out of wedlock do you think for one second they wouldn't be talking about it? She made one comment about being proud of her country for the "first time" and they practically rode her out of town on a rail, but the spouse of the Veep candidate can belong to a secessionist group!??!?
Country First? Are you kidding me?
Palin MUST be put under the microscope and these people must be shown to be the charlatans and thieves they are.
Will Palin ever Meet The Press?
I had a scary dream the other night. Scary because it didn't seem all that far fetched.
It's the evening of the Vice Presidential debate. Joe Biden has been practicing all month to tone down his "bully" and still seem effective.
Sarah Palin has run out of invective and rhetoric. And she still hasn't been vetted by the press.
For it isn't the vetting that McCain's team "didn't do" that worries me. What worries me is that the press has never spoken to her. She is like a prophet, sitting on high, offering her sound bytes and speeches (written for her) and never has had to answer the tough questions on the spot.
There's something in the air that morning and all afternoon. A question has been raised. There's a rumor. Seems that Little Trig Palin, the Down's Baby of America, has come down with something. He's sick. Or there's a complication with Bristol's pregnancy. She has to be rushed to a hospital. Governor Palin can't make the debate, sorry, family comes first.
And the public eats it up.
This truly scares me:
The woman MUST be vetted. She must talk to the press. One on one. Not with a "pundant". But with actual press. She should be sitting down with Brokaw and Stewart, with whomever and asked the tough questions. Because the public needs to know who the hell she is. Not just what the Bush Speechwriters are giving her to say who she is.
I'm sorry. This is an amazing play out of the Rovian how-to-get-elected playbook. I shudder to think that the Obama camp hasn't divined this yet. But Dems find new ways to disappoint me every other year.
It's the evening of the Vice Presidential debate. Joe Biden has been practicing all month to tone down his "bully" and still seem effective.
Sarah Palin has run out of invective and rhetoric. And she still hasn't been vetted by the press.
For it isn't the vetting that McCain's team "didn't do" that worries me. What worries me is that the press has never spoken to her. She is like a prophet, sitting on high, offering her sound bytes and speeches (written for her) and never has had to answer the tough questions on the spot.
There's something in the air that morning and all afternoon. A question has been raised. There's a rumor. Seems that Little Trig Palin, the Down's Baby of America, has come down with something. He's sick. Or there's a complication with Bristol's pregnancy. She has to be rushed to a hospital. Governor Palin can't make the debate, sorry, family comes first.
And the public eats it up.
This truly scares me:
The woman MUST be vetted. She must talk to the press. One on one. Not with a "pundant". But with actual press. She should be sitting down with Brokaw and Stewart, with whomever and asked the tough questions. Because the public needs to know who the hell she is. Not just what the Bush Speechwriters are giving her to say who she is.
I'm sorry. This is an amazing play out of the Rovian how-to-get-elected playbook. I shudder to think that the Obama camp hasn't divined this yet. But Dems find new ways to disappoint me every other year.
Obama's Headquarters in LA
I received an email the other day from the Obama camp that the HQ in LA was finally opening. I didn't RSVP, though, because I wasn't exactly sure I would be able to go. I mean, I knew I COULD go, the question is whether or not I would just crap out and not do it in favor of sitting around the house and playing Rock Band.
Beth took Zoe to a Mom's club meeting and I had no reason to not go. So, I hopped on the motorcycle and headed into West LA.
If you were anywhere near Motor in West LA then you were stuck in a mad crush. Traffic was at a near standstill. ABC's newsvan was in a red zone.
I parked a few blocks over (very smart to take the bike) and walked. As I did I was joined by more and more people, one wearing an Obama t-shirt where Barack is opening his shirt like he's Superman. Others were festooned with pins and buttons.
The line wasn't THAT long when i got there, but I was right on time.
After a bit of time on the line where I was pontificating my Dem v Gop theory (I will put it here soon) the line started to move.
The volunteers brought out volunteer sheets. Just the sheets.
"This guy has like 200 million bucks and he can't afford a clipboard???" Some asshole remarked.
Oh, yeah, that was me.
Suddenly word came out that we were moving. Slowly, people started coming out of the building and we were told to follow.
We ended up in a parking lot behind the building because only 150 people rsvp'd and 750 showed up.
Eric Garcetti was inspiring.
Mark Ridley Thomas was powerful.
The crowd was energized.
The COMMUNITY ORGANIZER that is in charge of California came out and told us what we can do:
One job is to go to Nevada from now to November 4th, unpaid, with room and some board provided and work directly under the head staff out there to rally Nevada. Cool! I wish I could do it....damn you, Zoe.....
The others are weekend Nevada blasts, buses and cars to go there for the weekend and do the same thing...maybe...
And there's Obama Camp. A two day experience where they teach us how to be....community organizers. Yeah, that's the ticket.
As we funneled in to sign up I realized that just about 700 of the 750 people want to sign up. So I went home.
I'll go back today. I'll take Zoe. I'll sign up then.
Update: Yes, it should be noted that clipboards were eventually passed out. I'm sure initially no one was expecting the huge turnout.
You guys did a tremendous job.
Barack the Vote.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
This is why Republicans win.
Thanks to Jon Stewart, a five minute primer on just how the GOP will beat Obama. (Hint: you have to have zero integrity)
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Sarah Palin and the definition of the new conservative ideology
Alan Wolfe has a great piece in The New Republic.
You should read it.
If you don't wanna read it, here's an excerpt.
"And that is not all. In rushing to Sarah Palin's defense, the leaders of the Christian right have made it abundantly clear how they define a Christian. We don't care if you sin. We are not bothered if you put your ambition ahead of the needs of your children. If you have lied or broken the law, we will look the other way. It all comes down to your stand on guns and fetuses. Vote the right way, and you have our blessing. If any proof were needed that James Dobson is a political operative rather than a spiritual leader, his jumping on the Palin bandwagon offers it."
Now, go read it.
You should read it.
If you don't wanna read it, here's an excerpt.
"And that is not all. In rushing to Sarah Palin's defense, the leaders of the Christian right have made it abundantly clear how they define a Christian. We don't care if you sin. We are not bothered if you put your ambition ahead of the needs of your children. If you have lied or broken the law, we will look the other way. It all comes down to your stand on guns and fetuses. Vote the right way, and you have our blessing. If any proof were needed that James Dobson is a political operative rather than a spiritual leader, his jumping on the Palin bandwagon offers it."
Now, go read it.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
listening Post: Aerosmith - Rocks
Continuing the quarter century journey with the Toxic Twins, et al.
Aerosmith - Rocks -1976 (Buy it)
Tasty.
Big.
Sonic.
Rocks is better than Toys in the Attic and that's really saying something. In many ways this album is the progenitor of 80s glam metal. It's all there. The big, epic soaring ballads that Journey would cheeseball the hell out of (Home Tonight). The sleaze that Motley Crue would lay (false) claim to (Get the Lead Out). The template for Ratt, Winger, GnR (Rats in the Cellar). I even hear some Hagar-era Van Halen on Combination.
Rocks also carries the biggest blasts in the Aerosmith arsenal. Well, a couple more of them, at least. Back in the Saddle is catchy as hell and Last Child is the stuff FM AOR was created for.
Rocks deserves its place in the Best Records of the '70s pantheon. It's a really great record that leaves the "American Rolling Stones" label in the dust. In fact, I bet the Glimmer Twins were looking at the Toxic Twins for inspiration after this record.
Grade A+
A Side: Back in the Saddle, Last Child, Rats in the Cellar
BlindSide: Sick as a Dog, Get the Lead Out
Downside: Nothing. They are at their peak here.
Aerosmith - Rocks -1976 (Buy it)
Tasty.
Big.
Sonic.
Rocks is better than Toys in the Attic and that's really saying something. In many ways this album is the progenitor of 80s glam metal. It's all there. The big, epic soaring ballads that Journey would cheeseball the hell out of (Home Tonight). The sleaze that Motley Crue would lay (false) claim to (Get the Lead Out). The template for Ratt, Winger, GnR (Rats in the Cellar). I even hear some Hagar-era Van Halen on Combination.
Rocks also carries the biggest blasts in the Aerosmith arsenal. Well, a couple more of them, at least. Back in the Saddle is catchy as hell and Last Child is the stuff FM AOR was created for.
Rocks deserves its place in the Best Records of the '70s pantheon. It's a really great record that leaves the "American Rolling Stones" label in the dust. In fact, I bet the Glimmer Twins were looking at the Toxic Twins for inspiration after this record.
Grade A+
A Side: Back in the Saddle, Last Child, Rats in the Cellar
BlindSide: Sick as a Dog, Get the Lead Out
Downside: Nothing. They are at their peak here.
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