You are currently browsing the Down with Absolutes! weblog archives for July, 2005.
Who wants one? Via my friend Dave I got hold of a much coveted Gmail account. Because I’m now a “member” I get a supply of 50 Gmail accounts to distribute as I please. I don’t know what to do with them, so feel free to leave your email and I’ll give you one. Of course I only have 50, so assuming 50 people actually read this site, I should have plenty to go ’round.
Posted by Mike Matthews in General at 8:41 AM PDT
As many of you can tell I’ve been extremely lax in providing you with many unneeded updates these past few weeks. Seems I’ve been driving through The Doldrums of late, with no signs of a timely or foreseeable return. By return I mean back to my two-or-three-times-a-day regular posting. The single, nonsensical daily posts will have to keep you entertained for a while, I suppose.
Let me encourage you to check out some of my other favorite sites and blogs.
Crooks and Liars is an indispensible resource should you be in need of some great ammo against conservatives. A multimedia blog, C&L (as it’s known) provides its thousands of daily readers with videos and audio clips pulled from various TV, radio and internet sources and so kindly hosts these often-huge files for its voracious readers to consume. Few blogs are required daily viewing. C&L is one of them.
Digital Dissent rocks. Even better, it makes me long for that Master’s in International Relations. Soon enough. Justin Delabar is your guide through an analysis and assessment of foreign quandaries facing the United States today. His dissection of Middle East issues is particularly interesting. Always a must read and, unlike your humble host, he actually updates his site several times a day.
Who doesn’t love the awesome Talking Heads? OK, well maybe most of you. But, check out David Byrne’s journal regardless of whether or not you’ve professed your undying worship to this musical god. Check out his archives as well, which date back well over a year and thoroughly document some stops on his recent “Backwards Life” tour. Nowadays he’s back at home in New York and offers up his take on such topics as outings to an art museum and ruminations on the current political climate.
They’re just a few, with more to come I’m sure. I’ll be back tomorrow with more, my friends.
Posted by Mike Matthews in General at 9:46 PM PDT
I’ve got a short video to offer you. A disgusting video given to me by a friend who most likely would appreciate her anonymity. Before posting this video on this questionably tasteful blog, I’d like to take a vote. Who would like to see a video so vile and repulsive that one will most likely follow it with a trip to the bathroom?
Leave a comment here. Tomorrow I’ll consider whether or not to post this disgusting piece of trash.
Update I: I think I have a solution. I’m not going to post the link here on this page. Leave a reply to this thread if you want to see the video and I’ll email you the link. Be sure to leave a valid email address.
Posted by Mike Matthews in Filth at 9:15 AM PDT
I became a fan of Carly Simon via Aunt Mary, who frequently comments on this site. Back when I was five she would play, non-stop, Simon’s Coming Around Again. Of course, I was mostly interested in Simon’s pop rendition of nursery rhyme Itsy Bitsy Spider, even though the rest of the album is filled with great pop songs.
But, Ms. Simon needs to check herself. I was awakened today by her performance on The Early Show, cooing I Got You Under My Skin, from her latest, Moonlight Serenade. While listening, I noticed the show was flying from the rafters posters advertising Ambien, that ever-so-popular drug used to induce one into a deep sleep. Later, when going to commercial, a chyron popped up stating that this music presentation was sponsored by Ambien.
I thought “How wonderful a sponser!” After hearing Simon’s rendition of this extremely boring song, I thought I was going to drop back into a deep sleep. What is it with these once-popular musicians feeling the need to mine the depths of songs that are more than 50 years old? Rod Stewart is the biggest culprit. His career has soared in the past three years after releasing, in rapid succession, three albums of showtunes and American standards. Consequently, the three albums have rocked Billboard’s sales charts and brought Stewart his best sales in over a decade.
To Carly Simon’s credit, though, she isn’t merely jumping on this Boring Bandwagon. She’s recorded four albums of standards in the last 25 years, so it seems less calculated that she would put out another release in what is certainly an expected product from her every 8 or 9 years.
But, it’s certainly helped her career. Moonlight Serenade is her first album to debut in the top 10 in, I think, forever. Good for her. I remember her last album of new material, 2000’s The Bedroom Tapes barely scratched the top 100.
Is there anyone here really interested in this rebirth of music that should have stayed dead decades ago? I’ll be frank. I don’t like Frank Sinatra. I don’t like Glenn Miller. I don’t like big band and all that other nonsense. Though I can respect it, I think the music is a crashing bore. And I get so frustrated when these once huge popsters (sorry Aunt Mary!) feel the need to inch back into our lives with souped-up versions of In the Still of the Night and I Only Have Eyes for You.
Though I love Carly Simon, let’s hope she’ll be back recording some real music. Her own music. The fickle public may not pay it any attention, but at least it won’t suck.
Posted by Mike Matthews in Music at 8:12 AM PDT
Perhaps by a clever twist of fate or a mere contrivance I found myself sifting through a box of goodies. A box of goodies from my previous employer of nearly six years. A job from which I was fired on July 26, 2004 for, I assume, “misuse of company time and resources.” Today is my one-year anniversary. An emancipation from a company in which I would have remained employed had they not so graciously kicked my ass to the curb so tragically and suddenly.
Only because my sister needed some information on a computer I purchased for her for Christmas 2003 did I go rummaging through this box that remained in my car trunk for the whole year, untouched by hands too emotional to relive some of the memories of my early-adult years.
My sister’s PC is fried, so I casually said I thought I had the rebate information packed away with my belongings from the insurance company. Lo and behold the information we needed was there. And how appropriate it was to be called back to that box a year after casually stowing it away. Stowing it away with tears in my eyes and my mind wandering as to how I’d survive without the place that had been more of a home than my own Wilmington, Del. address.
So, here’s to memories. Both bad and good. Though still a bit stirred, I’m not quite as shaken as I was on that hot and sunny July 2004 day. A day I’ll certainly never forget. A day best served with memories like those I’ve just experienced.
Further reading: The Great Termination thread
Posted by Mike Matthews in The Great Termination at 5:24 PM PDT
Still not back to a song a week, though I must say the gap between this selection is shorter than that from last time.
So, what do I bring to my voracious audience now? Only something by one of the most influential songsmiths of the past 40 years: Leonard Cohen! Who doesn’t like this lyrical genius? Though most of you may not have heard him sing his own songs, he’s been well-covered by hundreds of contemporary and indie acts around the world. Most famously, though, is the cover of his song Hallelujah by now-deceased Jeff Buckley. I never jumped on the Buckley express as so many underloved and teenage women have, though I did appreciate his respectfully subdued cover.
But, Cohen is a man strictly walking to his own beat. A poet and writer, he didn’t actually start recording his own music until his late 30s. His songs had previously been recorded by songstress Judy Collins. Having played the guitar for years Cohen finally decided to give it a try. And though his vocal range is about as expansive as Lou Reed’s, he’s pulled off quite an impressive career.
In 1968 Sony released Cohen’s debut Songs of Leonard Cohen, a gorgeously arranged album filled with musical gems mostly composed in 3/4 time. Lead-off track Suzanne remains Cohen’s most well-known hit, though the album also features Sisters of Mercy and So Long, Marianne.
He’s continued for nearly 40 years, never registering a hit song on any music chart in the United States. Oddly, Sony has stuck by him for every one of his albums. His audience seems to be mostly college kids and artsy-fartsy grown-ups raised on AAA radio (that’s Adult Album Alternative for those who didn’t know!).
But to you I present his song In My Secret Life from his 2001 album Ten New Songs. So, Right Click, Download and let me know what you think.
At 70 I think the old chap still sounds pretty damn good.
Posted by Mike Matthews in Music at 2:12 PM PDT
Via Yahoo! News:
Car bombs at an Egyptian luxury hotel. Explosions in London subways. Suicide blasts in Baghdad. With the frequency of terror attacks apparently mounting, experts searching for common threads behind the attacks suggest that the war on terror is being waged against an ever-increasing well of recruits, bound together by motives and cause — rather than a single al-Qaida mastermind.
Translated: Islamic terrorists don’t give a fuck. They’re just blowing up whatever the hell they want, with or without representative leadership. If it’s Western, it’s enemy. Now they’ve attacked Egypt. Maybe more mainstream — and less hostile and loony — Muslims will join the West in condemning these viciously brutal attacks. More attacks on their own turf and we may see some action.
Posted by Mike Matthews in Craziness at 5:21 PM PDT
I have this site’s statistics tracked through Statcounter. This feature enables you to see from where your visitors are coming around the Net. Most interesting is seeing the unique searches surfers perform and how they happen to stumble upon my site. I think I’ve found the most interesting one yet. Some crafty deviant searched using this VERY unique grouping of words:
can you please tell me how to tighten my vagina .com
Cut the above and paste it into the Yahoo! search engine. Check out thesecond result. I’m flattered.
Posted by Mike Matthews in Dumb stuff at 10:16 PM PDT
Ok, I PROMISE I will be back Saturday AM with some freshness. Take this one to the bank. I have some good stuff lined up. If I fail you I’ll send a $25 check to the RNC.
PS…Went and saw The Island tonight. Suspend all disbelief and try not to think while watching it. Remember: you’re just there for the mind-blowing, Michael Bay-style action sequences. And boy does he deliver.
Posted by Mike Matthews in Dumb stuff at 10:04 PM PDT
President Bush announced tonight his nomination of federal appeals judge John Roberts Jr. as Sandra Day O’Connor’s replacement on the Supreme Court.
Why should I care? I’m a straight-white male. I’ll have no problem if I want to get married. Likewise, why should I worry about my abortion rights being compromised? I can’t have kids! So I don’t think I have any right to complain! George W. Bush is looking out for my interests and I thank him for that.
Sorry to all you FAGS and FEMINISTS. This Roberts guy is a young ‘un! You’ll be stuck with him for the next generation-and-a-half. Time to whip out the hangers. Because you’re FUCKED!
/sarcasm and slight (???) exaggeration.
Update I: UDel College Democrats weigh in.
Posted by Mike Matthews in Conservatism at 10:42 PM PDT
Insurgent attack yet again.
The four-day toll stands at120 dead:
“The Iraqi government condemns this brutal attack and promises the Iraqi people it will continue to tighten the grip on the terrorist organization by improving our armed forces and regaining control of security.”
Futile. Futile. Futile.
The “cost of freedom” is pretty high, indeed. Keep it up like this over the next five years and there’ll be no Iraqi populus to fight for. I bet people would rather still live under Saddam as opposed to living in the fear that they may die next in a ridiculous insurgent attack.
What hath we wrought?
Posted by Mike Matthews in General at 9:07 AM PDT
It’s been a while since I’ve posted a food-related excursion. I figure you’ve all had enough of my often-meandering political thoughts, so let me entertain you with this recipe I threw together tonight, with much acclaim from my mother and sister.
While grocery shopping on Sunday, my mother and I noticed some tasty looking sliced pork loins on manager’s special. We scooped up a couple pounds. I finally got around to whipping up a recipe for them tonight. And the critics have rated this one of my best meals.
Posted by Mike Matthews in Food and recipes at 8:42 PM PDT
As much as I despise WILM’s Mike Gallagher, I don’t mind his taking advantage of his freedom of speech. While accountability of broadcasters should be guaranteed, I don’t feel calling for his outright ousting is a legitimate defense against his opinions.
Which is why I take issue with an email Wilmington activist Liz Allen sent out tonight. I really do like Liz. She represents the fire many of us liberals need in fighting the disgustingly decadent Bush administration. I love receiving her emails and feel genuinely informed when I do get them.
Liz sent an email about a planned protest tomorrow at a local book store, where Gallagher will be signing copies of his new book. I don’t mind the protest, but here’s what I do mind:
Please come if only for a few minutes to show your support…We want this man off WILM Talk Radio, and we do want Air America to be put in his place.
I responded in kind to Liz about this comment, saying:
You see, Liz. Here’s where I disagree with you.
I love when these right-wing extremists take it a little too far. It shows just how crazy they are. And, why, as a liberal, would you advocate stifling someone’s free speech? Hate the guy all you want (as I do), but I don’t feel his First Amendment right should be compromised simply because you or I disagree with him.
Likewise, I realize that it would be futile to attempt to ban all forms of racism, or “white nationalism,” as you call it. As far as I can tell, racism is still legal in this country, as disgusting as it is. I don’t think it should be a crime for someone to be racist. Ostracized, perhaps. But neither a crime nor revocation of one’s First Amendment right simply because they hate. When we start legislating on people’s biases and hatred, we walk a fine-line of treading on “thought-crimes” control. Only when those individuals act violently on those biases and hatred should there be law enforcement intervention. Ergo, it IS the right of a citizen to be racist. Simple as that.
And, as for Air America. Puh-lease! I’m a die-hard, pinko-Commie, bleeding-heart liberal and even I can’t listen to that bore of a station. Just my personal preference. The only shows on that channel I can tolerate are Randi Rhodes and Mike Malloy. Al Franken is a crashing bore at hosting a radio show. He should stick to writing books.
I’d actually attend the protest just to have a little fun. It’d be one of the few. Unfortunately I’ve committed to working at the cafe all day tomorrow.
Posted by Mike Matthews in Liberalism at 7:38 PM PDT
