Try, Try, Try

I know the bloggy goes up and down. We go in cycles. But even if you have a quick thought...log in and post it. I like to read what you think. Post ANYTHING...it doesn't have to be deep.

Casual Observations
Concerns
Personal goals
Annoyances
Compliments
Links to cool websites
quotes
etc.etc.etc.

Great Investment

Hearing about Cram's gross attempt (see below) just reaffirms my own personal desire to keep my house, my mind, and the minds of my family clean. It validated what we did a few days ago. We got the MSTAR Web Sentinel. Its an online filter that works with any ISP. Its only $5 per month. Only Conformity has the override password...so to view any restricted material would require her to sit down and unlock it. I feel a real sense of satisfaction about it.

I am terrified at the perversions that routinely go on in this world. I realize and recognize my own vulnerabilities. I could never promise myself or anyone else that I will never do anything stupid...I can just promise to make choices everyday that will help me avoid these pitfalls.

Shocking

Did you guys hear that Marc Cram's dad (I am pretty sure its his dad) plead guilty to voyeurism? He scaled a 9 foot wall in a tanning salon to catch a glimpse of a 16 year old changing her clothes. 50 years old. Has been a member of the stake presidency. Sick.

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=331907&nid=148

Puzzling, Raging High School Hormones

Story #1 So the fam and I went to The Gateway tonight. There is a group of high school kids walking. One of them has his collar flipped up (stupid trend) and a football helmet on. So another group of similarly dressed guys walks by...no helmet in this group though. They make a comment about the helpmet. The helmet group bites right back. The other group yells something else. A fight could have developed. Another group of guys started egging the other two on. So... the kid wears a helpmet for attention. He gets the attention. And them wants to fight the people who gave it to him? How primal and territorial of him.
Story #2 "Conformity" and I went to see Pirates at Jordan Landing. A huge group of kids comes out of the theater. I guess they had been doing the milk challenge...where you try to drink a gallon of milk in an hour. The kid pukes all over the parking lot while his friends laugh. Interesting use of energy...to drink an obscene amount of milk in a short time...in order to...???????
Were we ever this stupid?

Why not?

It just pisses me right off...

The Daily Utah Chronicle

Call Me A Blaspheming Liberal...

By: Andy Thompson

Issue date: 8/7/06 Section: Opinion

Save the world, right?

This is why we're here: to learn, educate and develop our talents to sustain a prosperous future.

Of course, there's money, but that's just a tool.

The question remains: As the privileged few emerge to make decisions for the most powerful and influential country in the world, what do we need to do to ensure a place and a future for our children? Sound like a campaign speech? It should be.

Slap a Greenpeace sticker on the bumper, don't shop Wal-Mart and vote democratic. That's one path to happiness and salvation.

Another is to ride a bike, mute the commercials (or listen to NPR-where there are no commercials, just contributions), buy wind power and drink all-natural juice.

I know. I'm a screaming liberal. But I'm pretty sure the activities above are in line with what's written in your local Bible, Koran, Talmud, or anything by L. Ron Hubbard. Love thy neighbor, live modestly and reproduce-the cornerstones of life.

That's why I don't understand how the most religious communities in this country scoff at conservation, sacrifice and charity.

You'd think that after hearing about it every week for an hour, the religious right would comprehend the layers to living right. Yet, when listening to pundits like Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly and Anne Coulter berate public transportation and cast environmental groups as marginal terrorist organizations, one has to wonder what's being taught from these holy books.

It's not just the talking heads. Their politicians care little about the fundamental concepts that are the pillars to all religion. Instead, they enact laws allowing corporations to pollute the rivers and skies while enabling them to elude taxes for the cleanup.

The political right-the far right, emboldened by the righteous-will keep your heart pumping artificially against your loved one's wishes, but it won't fund the research needed to overcome disease. It will impose views taken from ancient books about the origin of man on the education system, and then dismiss science that indicates harmful, man-made global warming as little more than speculation.

All in the name of religion. But, behind the sanctimonious mask is money. Global warming is bad for business, as is subsidized health care, public transportation and free thinking. The majority of ideas from the left are bad for the bottom line, but necessary for our future.

The public needs to reflect on what it truly values. Do toys and luxuries trump community and goodwill? Life is not about dying with the most money. The best we can hope for is to leave an impression upon the world that will not have future generations hating us.

Here, atop the hill at the U overlooking Salt Lake City, we as students have an opportunity to see past the sphere of public consciousness that corporate interests control. The public has been lulled into thinking that, for the most part, things are fine; and big business maintains this veil. There is evidence, however, that everything is not OK. Consumer habits and treatment of the environment need to be altered. We as students have the power and influence to spur that change and bring our core values into the public consciousness.

Editor:

In his argument against conservatives, Andy Thompson cited three of the most ridiculous devotees: Limbaugh, O'Reilly and Coulter. So is liberalism to be defined exclusively by people like Franken and Maher? Utah's conservative political culture is strikingly naive and it also breeds liberals, like Thompson, who are only liberal to define themselves in relation to a demonized, conservative ideal. This political mudslinging just reveals Thompson's immaturity. Religious people "scoff at conservation, sacrifice, and charity?" You're not going to relate to too many people outside of Salt Lake's polarized populace with this kind of stereotyping. Critiquing the concrete policies and platforms of conservative elected officials is one thing but implying that there is not one religious person who rides their bike or hates Wal-Mart culture is absolutely ridiculous. You know, two-party politics often reeks of elitism and slander. Name-calling across the aisle and ridiculous stereotyping are all too common. Yes, there are problems with many facets of each side's doctrine. This is all the more reason to be levelheaded and mature (which Thompson obviously isn't) in a search for solutions to the nation's problems. Lester B. Pearson said that "politics is the skilled use of blunt objects." Thompson just tried to perform surgery with a spoon. Well done.

"Windypops"
First Year Student
School of Medicine

Motorcycle mAxXy...

I saw the dude (not The Dude from The Big Lebowski...I mean Aaron Scott Maxfield) drive off on his hog. He should change his name to Charlie Chulo, smoke Cuban cigars, and play billiards professionally in the Bahamas.

Well it's done, I am staying home. My last day is Sept 1. To make it worse I GAVE my job to my friend Stefanie from college. I was reluctant, however, I think for my respect for my boss, I think she will do good there and be what he wants. Hey also I will have one more reason to stop in and say hi. I can't believe how hard this, I know it's the right thing, it feels right. My boss wrote me a final email telling me the job is mine all I have to do is work everyday. I just got out of his office again this morning and he expressed how "sad" he was. My eyes teared and I said me too.

So on top of that. My friend Katie is moving to Boise today. Its funny how people just come in your life, make a huge impact and then leave. I am heartbroken about it. She is the closest, most unjudgement, understanding friend I have had, next to one, the other most infinate heartbreak I have encountered. But my heart is heavy of change today.

Muse is coming in Sept

Who wants to go? I thinkwe all like them....its at Saltair. Opinions?

I like these too...

Saw these a while ago and liked them.

One's picasso and the other is Rabi Khan.

I cannot StReSs it Enough!

Use your avenues...reputable...or not. To give these guys a good listen. You will NOT be sorry. Linds talked about the magic of the entire album...these guys have songs that mesh together...repeating underlying themes...offerring the listener a deep listening experience. They're not on the radio for all I know...adding to the excitement I have about them. Samuel...I love the Format, man. AWESOME.

With Mew...you will hear:

Melodic ideas you haven't heard before.

Interesting ways to convey musical intensity

Weird, original lyrics

Sounds not commonly used in alternative music

And much more...this stuff will carry you away...its THAT good.

Pop music I like...

Pop Music - Pop music is a genre of popular music distinguished from classical or art music and from folk music ^[1]. The term indicates specific stylistic traits, but the genre also includes artists working in many styles such as rock, hip hop, rhythm and blues (R&B), and country, making it a flexible category. It may also be referred to in some cases as soft rock or pop/rock. (copied from Wikipedia...take it for what its worth.)

I more or less agree with this statement.

Music that I REALLY enjoy that fits into this category:

ABBA
The Carpenters
The Mamas and the papas
The Beach Boys
Phil Collins
The Police
Erasure
The Pet Shop Boys
Duran Duran
Tears for Fears
INXS
Peter Gabriel
Genesis
REO Speedwagon
the Psychedelic Furs
Depeche Mode
Imogen Heap
Frou Frou
Elton John
Billy Joel
Eurythmics
Matchbox 20
Fine Young Cannibals
Howard Jones
Madonna
Robbie Williams
Roxette
New Order
Seal
Thompson Twins
a-ha
the Bravery
Kaiser Chiefs
Franz Ferdinand
A Flock of Seagulls
The Cars
Collective Soul
Goo Goo Dolls
Keane
the Killers
Lenny Kravitz
Michelle Branch
Morrissey
Coldplay
The Outfield
Peter Schilling
R.E.M.
Ringside
Sarah McLaughlan
Starship
Switchfoot
Third Eye Blind
Toad the Wet Sprocket
Tonic
Tori Amos
Toto
Travis
U2
Vertical Horizon

While some of these bands border on other genres...I really believe them to be Pop Music. This illustrates my definition of pop...I think its broad...its diverse...its worthwhile...and written, produced, and recorded by real artists. U2 has an album called Pop for crying out loud. This is a small sliver of the pop music I like. There are many smaller artists (of which I like fewer songs) that also would be included in this list.

And this too...

What messages do you see coming from photos like this....getting passed on to the youth of today?!?

Another Curiosity of Mine...

Lindsey raised an interesting point today (as she often does) and I was wondering what everyone's take on it was.

What do you think o f the hyper-masculine, tough, thug image that is played out in the hip-hop culture? What effects do you think come from this?

My Pretentious Nature Compels Me

I have to respond to all the comments that have come and gone in the past day, while I was not able to participate. If nothing more, I need to organize my own thoughts, and opinions on what you all have said... and indulge my arrogance as well. I apologize for the length, but you guys have said interesting things.

As for the artist/entertainer bit. Both are enviable titles, and neither are negative terms. Not one person in "the arts" is either one or the other. Elton John, and RX Bandits are both artists and entertainers. They may swing more to one side (or hit for the other team as Elton John does), but they still share both titles' ambitions to a degree. They are at their extremes very different. YES, the semantics matter, because to communicate ideas we have to use words. In the dictionary (I looked it up) it confirms that 'entertainers' exist for OTHERS. Artists are much harder to define, because the term is much more subjective.

Maybe a little art history can help illustrate how subjective 'artist' in today's world is. I'll try to simplify this story. We live in a time when we are used to the term 'artist' and 'art' (or music) being applied to anyone, and anything. It didn't used to be that way. For centuries, an artist, and art (and music) had to be looked at, inspected, debated, and (hopefully) approved by the various esteemed academies to be considered worthy. This system led to beautiful art, but stifled creativity and progress. Many great artists never realized the success they could have in a less aristocratic art society. Van Gogh's art was viewed as degenerate and disgusting, contributing to his life-long insecurity and his committing suicide.

A ground-breaking artist named Marcel Duchamp changed this in 1917 with help from MANY wonderful contemporaries. Duchamp was a master of many different styles of painting, sculpture, and mixed-media arts. In 1917 he submitted a work of his to an art competition. What he entered was a urinal detached and cleaned, turned on it's side, and titled 'fountain' (if you look at it strictly aesthetically, it's really quite beautiful). This was such a scandalous entry that he entered it under the fake name R. Mutt. This is the first instance of an artist instituting the now ubiquitous (love that word) rule: 'It's art because I say it is.' That is the way art, and music is today, and it is a far better system. It is liberating to know that YOU can make whatever YOU want to, and it is art if YOU say it is. No pressure!

So 'artist' is subjective, let's not return to the aristocratic academies of the past in defining what good or bad music (and art) is. You and I can merely say "I like" or "I don't like." Punks, and indie-philes of today unknowingly rank themselves with the elitist snobs of the past passing judgement on everything they know little about. Isn't one of the group punks in general rebel against is the close-minded aristocracy? Don't be an art or music SNOB (I'm not speaking to anyone in particular, I just happen to agree with Scott). I would like to point out that not liking something doesn't make you close-minded, but not liking 95% of the music out there DOES make you musically close-minded. It's like saying, 'hey, I've looked at other races, talked to other races, and even kissed other races, so I know white is right. I like what I like.' There is SO much to like and dislike, that to say 'I only like one type of music', I believe, reeks of elitism and lack of experimentation.

I gotta go to bed, I could write all night. Part 2 of 433 coming soon.

Stay At Home Toni???

Well here goes. Back to our earlier discussion on mothers staying home it seems as if I am staring it in the face. I recieved an email from my boss saying he needs me there everyday and they need a commitment of more hours. So it looks like I may have to be brave and face my fears sooner than I thought. I am kinda freaking out. He says we will discuss it tomorrow when I come in. Give me some good words of encouragement as I stare down the stereotypical staying at home housewife life. Oh and wish me luck on basically facing the possibility of being let go.. and getting any sleep tonight.

The debate boils down to....

The debate boils down to one underlying principle. Whether one WANTS to experience new musical ideas, new rhythms, new song writing types, new lyrical ideas, or new genres. The debate can roll back and forth about what "pop music" is or what an "artist" truly is...or whether a certain artist has integrity or not. But the true measure of musical understanding and exploration is only found in one's willingness to drop inhibitions and try something new. Its just too easy to put something down and never try it. Attacking from afar carries MUCH less credibility than a critique after close exposure to the music.

I remember reading an article in Time Magazine about Bono. He talked about how fashionable it is to discard music because the masses seem to like it. The irony would be that the urge to avoid popular music would entrench the individual in a cultural trend JUST LIKE pop music. Just moving the opposite direction. A sort of conformity to NON-conformity.

I was reading briefly today about a theory called "The Doctrine of The Cardboard Enemy." It talked about the punk rock ideology. I don't understand it fully, but it argues that the more punks rebel against the status quo, the more they become a part of it.

I love debates like this!!! Thanks guys.

I always like to acknowledge others' role in the expanding Windypops Music Taste...notable additions in the last couple years have been

Sunny Day Real Estate
Action Action
The Format
ABBA
Alkaline Trio
the Arcade Fire
Bayside
Ben Folds
The Flaming Lips
Bjork
Erasure
Keane
Mae
Frou Frou
Bloc Party
She Wants Revenge
Muse
The Rapture
Incubus

I want to be the FIRST to know if you guys find something cool. And thanks again to Toni and Jacob for the trip to the Rx Bandits. That was AWESOME!

According to VH1...

The worst songs of all time:

50. Corey Hart - I Wear My Sunglasses at Night
49. Puff Daddy f/ Faith Evans & 112 - "I'll Be Missing You'
48. Michael Bolton - 'Can I Touch You There'
47. Bobby Brown w/Whitney Houston, 'Something in Common'
46. Spin Doctors - Two Princes
45. Ruben Studdard, 'I'm Sorry'
44. Billy Joel - We Didn't Start The Fire
43. Master P feat. Silkk, Fiend, Mia-x & Mystikal - 'Make Em Say Uhh'
42. Rednex - Cotton Eye Joe
41. JC Chasez - 'Some Girls (Dance with Women)'
40. 4 Non Blondes, 'What's Up'
39. Snow - 'Informer'
38. Ja Rule - Mesmerize
37. Bette Midler, "From a Distance"
36. Color Me Badd - I Wanna Sex You Up
35. Don Johnson - Heartbeat
34. Crazytown - 'Butterfly'
33. Jennifer Lopez - 'Jenny from the Block'
32. Mr. Mister - Broken Wings
31. R. Kelly, 'You Remind Me of Something'
30. Nelly - Pimp Juice
29. Meatloaf - 'I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won't do That)
28. Rick Astley - 'Never Gonna Give You Up'
27. Wreckx-N-Effect - 'Rump Shaker'
26. Bryan Adams - The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me is You

25. Michael Jackson, 'You Rock My World'
24. Phil Collins, "Sussudio"
23. Sisqo - 'The Thong Song'
22. Lionel Richie - Dancing on the Ceiling
21. Rembrandts, "I'll Be There For You"
20. Toby Keith, 'Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue'
19. Chicago - You're the Inspiration
18. Hammer - 'Pumps and a Bump'
17. Right Said Fred, "I'm Too Sexy"
16. Europe, "The Final Countdown"
15. Crash Test Dummies - Mmm, Mmm, Mmm, Mmm
14. Will Smith, "Will2K"
13. Aqua - 'Barbie Girl'
12. New Kids on the block - Hangin' Tough
11. Gerardo - Rico Suave
10. Huey Lewis & the News - Heart of Rock-n-Roll
9. Bobby McFerrin - Don't Worry Be Happy
8. Ricky Martin - She Bangs
7. Eddie Murphy, "Party All the Time"
6. Deep Blue Something, "Breakfast at Tiffany's"
5. Vanilla Ice, "Ice Ice Baby"
4. Limp Bizkit, "Rollin'"
3. Wang Chung - Everybody Have Fun Tonight
2. Billy Ray Cyrus, "Achy Breaky Heart"
1. Starship, "We Built This City"

Rock Music IS Theatrical!!

OK, OK, OK. I know that the Pet Shop Boys are grossly...well...just kinda gross in their flamboyance. Those are pictures I have seen before. The top one is from their "Very" album. The other must be their live concert...chef theme. He he he. Nice post man...he he he.

Seriously, I like discussions like this though...

I post these pictures to touch on the theatrics that exist in each genre of music. I don't mean to gross out anyone. You see a little too much of Frank Zappa...so I added the black circle.

Now, Jake, you can say, "You don't see Cursive, Rx Bandits, Sunny Day Real Estate, or The Juliana Theory in these kinds of situations." And you're right. But much of that music comprises one slim sub category (EMO/Indie Punk) in one specific genre (Punk Rock). The theatrics don't have much place in that forum. You would be absolutely right.

These are different musical categories and genres though. Everyone from Pink Floyd (the women's butts above) to the Beatles to Robert Smith have tried to do new things...tried to appear differently and challenge the trend. I think I have represented most genres of popular music today. Its clear that most of them employ some type of over-the-top theatrical approach. I know you probably don't like most of what I posted up here...I don't like all of it either...but we shouldn't walk into the symphony wondering where the electric guitars are.

Bottom line: theatrics could easily be frowned upon by someone who likes the grassroots-type productions with the small venue and the band setting up their own gear. And that is cool. I have been there now...and LOVED IT! But I just want to point out that pop music is traditionally more acceptable to...well..those living the alternate lifestyles...Conformity went to a Cher concert and WOW. Its just the nature of the beast. I just think that the theatrics and costumes that are used in music nowadays aren't necessarily a bad thing. the weird and unexplored are part of the musical journey. I mean the Flaming Lips...holey moley. These ideas are often the whole idea behind modern visual art. The Met in NYC is incredible for this very reason. Andy Warhol...Pablo Picasso...its all a part of the abstract journey. A journey worth the while if you ask me...

Speaking of Elton John and his...uh....gayness. You were wearing a certain T-Shirt the other day...

The Pet Shop Boys.......

....Do I need to say anything???

Top Ten Movies of..well...they're just my favorites!

1. The Pianist
2. Amadeus
3. Shine
4. Kingdom of Heaven
5. Saving Private Ryan
6. Pirates of the Caribbean (#1)
7. The Fugitive
8. Silence of the Lambs
9. Lord of the Rings trilogy
10. Bandits

What should I write about?

I mean, things seem to be slowing down on the bloggy. That's ok. People's lives are going at a fast pace. I am stuck at a confounded teller window right now. "Sir, do you know your account number?" No surprise. "I'll just look that up for you then...[you stupid imbecile. how old are you? what if I just deposit this money into some random account. you would never know you denture-wearing, cheap cologne smelling, flaky scalp...man.] I think it is time to change jobs my friends.

Printed out the schedule for Medical School. It seems to be manageable at first glance...of course they don't fill in the time you will need for studying. I am really excited to start though. I really feel lucky to be in this situation.

Other random thoughts off the top of my head?

Did you know that Antarctica consists of ice sheets in excess of 10,000 feet thick? It is so thick that it has compressed the bedrock on which it rests to a level below the ocean surface! In contrast, the Arctic ice sheets are a mere 10 feet thick. Submarines can surface in the middle of the North Pole with no problem.

The USA has never gone to war with a country that has a McDonald's in it. (according to Thomas Friedman)

Switchfoot is a Christian rock band. So is P.O.D. Geez.

People who have big bellies look really uncomfortable with their tight pants causing their paunch to pour over the top of their waistline. Bigger pants....Ultra-Slim Fast?

Mel Gibson's father believes the Holocaust never happened.

Why in the WORLD do Utahns wear socks with their sandals? I did that in elementary school...a couple of times. I remember that my Colorado sandals turned my socks brown. I thought I was so cool when I got those sandals. Anyway, I say a guy in the airport when I flew to NC that had a BYU hat on, a SLC 10k shirt on, Levi's 501's, a browh leather weaved belt, and white socks on with his Tevas. I am not judging this guy. He is probably the nices guy you'll meet. I just notice the tendency to wear socks with sandals...and the other Utah-isms. I saw a guy sitting in front of us at church who had dark socks on with his black sandals...with his slacks.

Lava lamps mesmerize casual passers-by.

Lab tests suggest that fecal matter is one of the most common contaminants on the circulating dollar bill.

Pet Shop Boys are playing the E Center in November. Tickets are really expensive. I would like to see them though...you know in hopes of a gold speedo or a rendition of the YMCA. Yes, I like these guys...and their...uhhh...gay...pop music. Good tracks from the PSB in case anyone is interested...(yeah right)...Liberation, Being Boring, Suburbia, Always on My Mind, Radiophonic, Survivors, Up Against It, Love Comes Quickly, Different Point of View, For Your Own Good, Luna Park, London, Samurai in Autumn etc. etc.

Stuff I'm Liking

Monty Are I - In This Legacy
Rx Bandits - To Our Unborn Daughters
Gatsbys American Dream - We Can Remember It For You Wholesale
Lucero - Bikeriders
Cursive - Into the Fold
Seu Jorge - Changes

thought i would take up some space

The Lure of Laziness...

I suppose this is one of the most frustrating thing about living life for me. There is a cruel irony for me when the stranglehold of busy life loosens up. I waste more time...despite having more time.

I just came off one of the most intense periods of my life...about to start THE most intense period in my life. There is a sort of lull in the action. Things have slowed down. The deadlines I have had to meet for medical school admission have been easy to meet. I have been able to have free time.

Now, I have to give myself credit. I have been able to get a lot of things done around the house. I have built shelves, organized closets...you know...getting the house to be livable and functional. Yet I HATE the way I treat my free time a lot of times. I sit down and surf iTunes...or watch MSNBC for 2 hours...or pop in a DVD. There's nothing incredibly wrong with these choices...but there are times in my life when I am relaly overcome with a desire to learn. I am in one of those times right now.

I have been overtaken by the conflict in the Middle East. I cannot imagine such hate and territorialism so deeply embedded into an entire culture. (Hence, the MSNBC comment above.) I have also become worried about our environment. I understand that this has been labeled as a left-wing agenda item...but I really worry about it. The heat waves as of late are alarming. There is a lot of science that suggests we are damaging our envoronment. I have read a lot of Al Gore's book "An Inconvenient Truth." It really uses visual images to show how glacier's are melting and carbon dioxide levels are rising. It scares me. I appreciate the relevance of science...no, I won't discuss stem cell research. That's another difficult thing for me to handle...(we are throwing the embryos away...) Anyway...

My point is that I feel a great need to manage my time better. I want to defeat the trend that has existed in past Christmas vacations, summer vacations, and other less-stressful times in my life. That trend is that when the marionette strings loosen...I waste more time--despite having vastly MORE time than before. I think of all the cool books I could have read this summer (I know that the house was a big project....but still) like Thomas Friedman's "From Beirut to Jerusalem" or David McCullough's "John Adams."

I guess I just have something to work on in coming years. And to keep all of this in line with my goal of being the best father I can be... I suppose that's why Franklin Covey has thier niche market. Nobody can TOTALLY control their time.