September 28, 2007
AUTUMN
...my immediate future: many thousands of these...
you'd be surprised at how super-sensitive and touchy it can be announcing the advent of a season around the bloggy intertubes, but since I live in a town called Maplewood, a place where autumn arrives with a particularly unsubtle precipitation of leaves, acorns and dead limbs, I'd be remiss if I didn't at least take note, as well as wish everyone a happy and prosperous fall season, and good will toward all men and beasts. here's a suitable piece from an old favorite (just the one, because big important me has lots and lots of work to do dontcha know)...
The Auroras of Autumn (excerpt)
II
Farewell to an idea . . . A cabin stands,
Deserted, on a beach. It is white,
As by a custom or according to
An ancestral theme or as a consequence
Of an infinite course. The flowers against the wall
Are white, a little dried, a kind of mark
Reminding, trying to remind, of a white
That was different, something else, last year
Or before, not the white of an aging afternoon,
Whether fresher or duller, whether of winter cloud
Or of winter sky, from horizon to horizon.
The wind is blowing the sand across the floor.
Here, being visible is being white,
Is being of the solid of white, the accomplishment
Of an extremist in an exercise . . .
The season changes. A cold wind chills the beach.
The long lines of it grow longer, emptier,
A darkness gathers though it does not fall
And the whiteness grows less vivid on the wall.
The man who is walking turns blankly on the sand.
He observes how the north is always enlarging the change,
With its frigid brilliances, its blue-red sweeps
And gusts of great enkindlings, its polar green,
The color of ice and fire and solitude.
--Wallace Stevens
...
just spotted this one: after using the "let he who is without sin cast the first stone" bible story to defend his thrice-married/hated by his kids/trophy wife lifestyle to the christian broadcast network, rudy giuliani had this to say:
"But I think in a democracy and in a government like ours, my religion is my way of looking at God, and other people have other ways of doing it, and some people don't believe in God. I think that's unfortunate. I think their life would be a lot fuller if they did, but they have that right."
in response, mr. guiliani, allow me to quote another great christian: go fuck yourself.
...
September 27, 2007
OCTOBER
...one word: playoffs...
after a dismal first half, when it looked like Torre might lose his job, and the Yankees, bloated with overpaid free agents and blase veterans, might limp along toward an exasperating third-place finish (personified by the thoroughly useless and I hope now definitively unmarketable Carl Pavano), it would appear that their talent has now manifested itself the only way it can in baseball--as a collaborative effort. this is the social metamorphosis that occurs in successful sports teams, and which quickly negates the old trope about big payrolls--the Yankees are now a team. They faced adversity together, worked together and are now winning games in decisive fashion. They received an injection of young talent-a whole lot of it-which reminded the veterans of just how much fun this game can be, and how confidence, equipoise and enthusiasm, i.e. fun, is downright essential. Not to mention, the lack of any panic from the front office as well...who would you rather have in your bullpen today: Joba Chamberlain or Eric Gagne?
We cannot predict what can happen in October (or September, as the hapless Mets are currently experiencing). I personally despise the three-of-five-game wild card division series, as I think that any two teams playing for their postseason survival should be playing a four-of-seven-game series, so that entire pitching staffs are required, not just (as is often the case) two hot starters and one kid having a good day. If the batters still get to swing over nine innings, then pitching staffs should be asked to pitch all the way through the order. But knowing these obstacles, and knowing how unpredictable October baseball can be, I feel good today, knowing the we're not just lining up a group of high-paid hitters, but a cohesive energized team. And we have Derek Jeter. Remember: they had to earn this. So, whether it's Boston, or Cleveland, or Anaheim of Los Angeles of California or whatever the fuck the rally monkey people call themselves, I say: you want some of this? Then let's get it on.
...
September 26, 2007
LOOK KIDS I'M A WONKY NETWORKER TOO
...we're all connected, kumbaya kumbaya...
this is a bit trippy...a work colleague encourages me to start a facebook account and have a peep at our boss' profile in our company's network, and of course that was pointless but no sooner had I entered in my educational information, then I was quickly privy to at least one old friend from college days, and emailing a second...who knew?
and yes gentle reader it turns out that all this time we've been living in the same town going to the same barber shop and isn't it funny that our wives have been friendly at the church functions but didn't know about their husband's secret shared history as revolutionary drug fiends?
well not exactly, but it's amazing how many people you know end up in new jersey...
and lawyers.
bring on the nostalgia! bring on the classic rock! hey why not, I've still got my hair...
...
September 25, 2007
MAYBE THEY'RE ALL DEAD
...two Iranian teenagers, one age 18, the other age 16 or 17, executed for the crime of homosexuality, in Edalat (Justice) Square in the city of Mashhad in north-eastern Iran, July 19, 2005...
“In Iran we don’t have homosexuals like in your country... In Iran we do not have this phenomenon. I don’t know who’s told you that we have this.” --Iranian President Ahmadinejad, address at Columbia University, September 24, 2007.
...
this is PRICELESS...first of all, that this took place at the "value voters debate" with the gang of republican candidates looking on is just funny...second because it re-works one of the most grating and unpleasant pieces of music in the canon--the kate smith WWII rally song, now instilled as national anthem jr. at the mid-point of all yankee home games (what an AWFUL recording! people: there is no formality/etiquette requirement to stand up; it isn't the anthem, it's just a crappy piece of music from the 40s...you're not disrespectful or unpatriotic if you do what I do and sit it out)--and manages to make it much more musically interesting than the original....for me the positive aspect is that it is now a song of hope, that the america they sing of might finally turn away from the imaginary god character and his ideological shackles to think for themselves (which is why getting him out of the schools was just a grand idea in the first place)-'cuz america doesn't need a fictional deity blessing america needs to bless its own ass and start acting like itself again...and last but not least, it's so instructive that the republicans, en masse, are tacitly espousing a definition of "values voters" as those who are wholly and irrevocably superstitious and obedient to the mythic construct known as god, capital "G"...not surprising that they hold that the people have turned away from the make believe god, and so now are so much worse off, since they no longer belong to the group who falls for the ploy engineered by those whose interests are served in having large chunks of the population believe that the imaginary god lends power and moral superiority to them (might such naivete explain some of those who still blindly believe in our iraqi policy?)...the power of course going to the men at the lecterns, and the false pretense of moral superiority, such as it is, to the "believers"... hallelujah! that such nonsense isn't being allowed in the schools now. imagine the young impressionable minds which could have been flung into that hysterical morass, as they'd been flung for so many generations before....and one last thing sugar--a group of black females singing--most likely for free--before a panel of rich white republicans? if that isn't a perfect example of the crippling power of religion, I don't know what is...they hate you, don't you know that yet? perhaps it doesn't matter, such is the power of Jesus, still the biggest name in show business...
...
September 21, 2007
HOOF IT
The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man. Other forms of
transport grow daily more nightmarish. Only the bicycle remains pure in
heart. -Iris Murdoch
...
GAME. SET. MATCH.
...
September 19, 2007
CHENEY GETS LUNCH
ah, yes. the genius of eddie izzard. this time making an obvious but seldom-considered point about darth vader:
"But there must've been a Death Star canteen, yeah? There must've been a cafeteria downstairs, in between battles, where Darth Vader could just chill and go down:
Darth Vader: I will have the penne all'arrabiata.
Canteen Worker: You'll need a tray.
Darth Vader: Do you know who I am?
Canteen Worker: Do you know who I am?
Darth Vader: This is not a game of who the fuck are you. For I am Vader, Darth Vader, Lord Vader. I can kill you with a single thought.
Canteen Worker: Well, you'll still need a tray.
Darth Vader: No, I will not need a tray. I do not need a tray to kill you. I can kill you without a tray, with the power of the Force, which is strong within me. Even though I could kill you with a tray if I so wished. For I would hack at your neck with the thin bit until the blood flowed across the canteen floor.
Canteen Worker: No, the food is hot. You'll need a tray to put the food on.
Darth Vader: Oh, I see the food is hot. I'm sorry. I did not realise. Ha ha ha ha … oh … tray for the … yes. I thought you were challenging me for the fight to the death.
Canteen Worker: A fight to the death? This a canteen, I work here.
Darth Vader: Yes, but I am Vader. I am Lord Vader? Everyone challenges me to a fight to the death. Lord Vader? Darth Vader, I'm Darth Vader. Sir Lord Vader? Sir Lord Darth Vader? Lord Darth Sir Lord, Lord Vader of Cheem? Sir Lord Baron Von Vader Ham? The Death Star. I run the Death Star.
Canteen Worker: What's the Death Star?
Darth Vader: This is the Death Star! You're in the Death Star! I run this star!
Canteen Worker: This is a star?
Darth Vader: This is a fucking star! I run it! I'm your boss.
Canteen Worker: You're Mr. Stevens?
Darth Vader: No, I'm … who is Mr. Stevens?
Canteen Worker: He's Head of Catering.
Darth Vader: I'm not Head of Catering! I am Vader, I can kill catering with a thought.
Canteen Worker: Wha'?
Darth Vader: I can kill you all! I can kill me with a thought! Just … fine, I'll get a tray! Fuck it! This one's wet, and this one's wet and this one's wet. This one is wet. This one is wet. This one is wet. This one is wet. This one is wet. This one is wet. This one is wet. This one is wet. Did you dry these in a rainforest? Why, with the power of the Death Star do we not have a tray that is fucking dry? I do not … no, no, no! I was here first!
Other guy: You have to form a queue if you want food. Can I have, uh … ooo, penne all'arrabiata. That'd be very nice.
Darth Vader: No, no, no! Do you know who I am?
Other guy: That's Jeff Vader that is!
Darth Vader: I am not Jeff Vader, I am Darth Vader.
Other guy: What? Jeff Vader runs the Death Star?
Darth Vader: No, Jeff … no, I run the Death Star.
Other guy: You Jeff Vader?
Darth Vader: No, I'm Darth Vader.
Other guy: Are you his brother? Could you get his autograph?
Darth Vader: I can't get his … no, I'm Jeff … all right, I'm Jeff Vader! I'm Jeff Vader!
Other guy: Could I have your autograph?
Darth Vader: No, fuck off or I'll kill you with a tray! Give me penne all'arrabiata or you shall die! And you and everyone in this canteen! Death by tray it shall be!
Canteen Worker: Do you want peas with that?
Darth Vader: Peas! You don't have peas! You can't put in right in … you can't put …it doesn't work with penne! Unless you push 'em up the penne tubes and then it'd be weird! Oh, all right! Put some peas in. "
...
September 18, 2007
TRANSPARENCY AS MIRROR
I’m going to get into a bit of metaphysical music blather today so if you’re stopping by in search of a political rant today’s not the day. Lately things on that front have been so downright tragicomic that frankly I'd rather not even get started. However, since I usually post some sort of comment whenever I’ve built something or acquired something toward the advancement of musical sound, it's been my intention to post something in reaction to my new acoustic amp. Last week I took delivery on something that I already feel is going to significantly affect how I work in the foreseeable future. However, the usual paradigm won’t do—within the sphere of electrical guitar amplification, once one moves past the sign at the gate which declares “it’s all in the fingers,” we hordes of loudproud axe grinders just love to declare what works and what doesn’t and how many winds of wire went around the magnets and how that has made the pickup tone superior and how the rain forests of brazil must be preserved so that we can continue to rape them of their rosewood for our instruments and anyway my silverface fender deluxe had all the right mods put in and now the blackface tone is in there and therefore I am a verifiably improved human being. See? We think of our equipment as additive—the placement of a certain device between our fingers and the speaker pushing the air, whether it’s a guitar, a stompbox/pedal/fx unit, a certain type of cable, or the amp, is the very thing that transforms our meager finger manipulations into glorious bombastic sound. We do not, by definition, work within the prism of physics, the earthbound limitations that, say, a classical pianist, or an upright bassist, or a violinist, mandolinist, drummer, opera singer, anyone who makes sound acoustically (a very misused word), i.e. moving the air without help of electrical devices, does. And of course, most of those who would perform for a room larger than a kitchen must inevitably employ some sort of reinforcement, be it a public address system, or an amplifier, and these devices which amplify sound through a loud speaker by definition change the sound. Ever listen to a symphony at an outdoor concert in the park? How the sound changes. How to use this predictable change in a musical way. The additive element inherent in amplification, an electrical invention less than 100 years old...
My point? An acoustic guitar amplifier. By definition, an oxymoron of sorts. After all, an acoustic guitar’s very design is to bark out the sound of steel vibrating over a thin membrane of wood. On its own. We strum, it vibrates, we sometimes even sing over it. a fine, time-worn American phenomenon. But still, not loud enough. So, enter the AER Alpha, the baby of the AER amp line. German. Acoustic specialists. Very well respected brand. It arrives. I plug in. And here’s my one sentence review: holy crap it’s me. I once thought that a telecaster jacked into a clean tube amp kept me honest (and perhaps sounded “honest”) because it lacked sustain and compression and sounded “bright” (as opposed to, say, a les paul)…now I see my minimalist barebones future—it’s this sound, that comes out of this tiny amp, whose size is already liberating me from my previous worldview that I must somehow pay the cosmic dues of having to hurt my back, carrying giant speaker cabinets down rickety stairs just for the privilege of performing for a semi-vacant performance space. By comparison, this amp is like guerrilla warfare—no need for armor or helicopters or bazookas, just sneak it in with the shoulder strap and plug in. It’s the size of a soccer ball. They won’t even see it on the stage most likely, thereby enhancing the illusion that hey he sure does have a loud guitar…and hey look aunt nancy I can play the spaghetti house without pissing off the bluehairs...
Not that it has zero coloration, there are certainly parameters in the eq section which enable control over tone—I can make it thud more, or pump the sparkle in the treble, or even tweak the woody-ness with the midrange control. I’m not providing a review of the amps in this class, I’m aware that there are other good ones...marshall, schechtler, etc. I’m only here to say that my former attitudes concerning the playing of the guitar are hereby transformed with a sideswipe of simplicity…the representation of the acoustic sound of the instrument are translated into a wholly convincing clone, such that the dynamics are there, the tone is there, even to the extent that I’m over here, and I’m sending me over to the other side of the room. less a representation than a reflection. It feels like me, my fingers, only moreso....one louder... The AER Alpha: holy crap it’s me.
...
September 16, 2007
MAKING THE NATURE SCENE
East Lake, Belgrade Lakes Region, Maine, August 17, 2007
(click for hi-res image)
After you have exhausted what there is in business, politics, conviviality,
and so on -- have found that none of these finally satisfy, or permanently
wear -- what remains? Nature remains. -Walt Whitman
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September 15, 2007
CHEAT
i get violent when i'm fucked up
i get silent when i'm drugged up
want excitement, don't get none, i go wild
i don't know what can be done about it
if you play the game you get nothing out of it
find out for yourself try bein' a goody goody
you better cheat cheat
no reason to play fair
cheat cheat or don't get anywhere
cheat cheat if you can't win
nobody knows what they are doing
it's beyond your control, an' friday night's a ruin
if you wanna survive you better learn how to lie
don't use the rules
they're not for you, they're for the fools
and you're a fool if you don't know that
so use the rule you stupid fool
"Cheat" by The Clash (Strummer/Jones)
...
OOPS!!!
...
September 14, 2007
LIAR
you think you're gonna to live your life alone
in darkness
and seclusion
yeah I know
you've been out there
tried to mix with those animals
and it just left you full of humiliated confusion
so you stagger back home
and wait for nothing
but the solitary refinement of your room spits you back out onto the street
and now you're desperate
and in need of human contact
and then
you meet me
and your whole world changes
because everything I say is everything you've ever wanted to hear
so you drop all your defenses and you drop all your fears
and you trust me completely
I'm perfect
in every way
cause I make you feel so strong and so powerful inside
you feel so lucky
but your ego obscures reality
and you never bother to wonder why
things are going so well
you wanna know why?
cause I'm a liar
yeah I'm a liar
I'll tear your mind out
I'll burn your soul
I'll turn you into me
I'll turn you into me
cause I'm a liar, a liar
a liar, a liar
I'll hide behind a smile
and understanding eyes
and I'll tell you things that you already know
so you can say
I really identify with you, so much
and all the time that you're needing me
is just the time that I'm bleeding you
don't you get it yet?
I'll come to you like an affliction
and I'll leave you like an addiction
you'll never forget me
you wanna know why?
cause I'm a liar
yeah I'm a liar
I'll rip your mind out
I'll burn your soul
I'll turn you into me
I'll turn you into me
cause I'm a liar, a liar
liar, liar, liar, liar
I don't know why I feel the need to lie
and cause you so much pain
maybe it's something inside
maybe it's something I can't explain
cause all I do
is mess you up and lie to you
I'm a liar
oh, I am a liar
if you'll give me one more chance
I swear that I will never lie to you again
because now I see the destructive power of a lie
they're stronger than truth
I can't believe I ever hurt you
I swear
I will never lie to you again, please
just give me one more chance
I will never lie to you again
I swear
that I will never tell a lie
I will never tell a lie
no, no
ha ha ha ha ha hah haa haa haa haaa
sucker
sucker!
oh, sucker
I am a liar
yeah, I am a liar
yeah I like it
I feel good
ohh I am a liar
yeah
I lie
I lie
I lie
oh, I lie
oh I lie
I lie
yeah
ohhh I'm a liar
I lie
yeah
I like it
I feel good
I'll lie again
and again
I'll lie again and again
and I'll keep lying
I promise
"Liar" by Henry Rollins
...
our new national anthem?
have a nice day...
...
September 12, 2007
MERCY MERCY MERCY
...the body electric...
remembering the great Joe Zawinul...
July 7, 1932 - September 11, 2007
...
September 11, 2007
NEVER FORGET
Today I remember the men of Ladder Company 3, E. 13th Street, whose primary assignment is to keep a watch on my old neighborhood. Six years ago today, they lost 12 of their 25 guys.
I don't live there anymore but I'll never forget what they did, and continue to do.
...
September 10, 2007
"THOSE ARE NOT IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE SUSTAINABLE"
...a few things to keep in mind, as we turn our attention to the hype and hogwash of the "petraeus report"...
on the eve of the anniversary of the event which gave way to the abdication of some of our most cherished principles as a democratic republic (habeas corpus, protection from unlawful surveillance, separation of church and state, freedom of the press, competent federal assistance whenever the city you live in is destroyed by a hurricane, etc.), they're trotting out a general to lobby for their political position before congress...the timing, of course, is pure coincidence...
if you think I'm being unfair to the general, or the cabal whom he serves, then consider that fact that he's doing an exclusive hour this evening on Fox News...the medium, of course, is pure coincidence...
the problem, of course, is diplomatic. asking a general to comment on the level of progress being made to unite Iraq, is rather like asking the carpenter to make a judgment about the architecture (and one might also inquire as to just what is being done to unite us?)...perhaps ambassador crocker has something to say on this, but given the fox/henhouse profile of 99% of the bush appointees, I don't see how anyone should expect him to offer much beyond the usual stay the course/use the force platitudes...
but it does beg at least one question...even the wholly uncharismatic warren christopher used to be a regular fixture on the tv news, flying back and forth to try and negotiate a peace between palestine and israel (remember them?)...where in the world is condoleeza rice? north korea? ferragamo? I just don't get why she seems to be skating free without a single shred of criticism directed at her entirely ineffectual performance as secretary of state...they trot out a temp ambassador to kick the ball down the field and meanwhile she's awol--no talks! there are no talks! there have been no talks! the iraqi parliament went on summer vacation and she's nowhere to be found....totally fucking disgraceful...but as a blowhard careerist anointed in the stench of failure, perhaps we'll hear from her on Fox News as well...it would seem to be the place where such types are most happily housed...
...
September 08, 2007
LOUD CLEAN WITH BALLS
...on its way...
AER Alpha
acoustic guitar amplifer
specs:
Rating: 40 Watt / 4 ohm rms
Speaker: 8’ twin-cone speaker-system (96 dB 1w/1m, freq. range 60Hz-18kHz)
Cabinet: 0.47’ (12 mm) birch plywood
Dimensions: h: 10.24’ (260 mm) x w: 10.43’ (265 mm)
the spiel:
For many years now AER has been the first choice in acoustic amplification for most players in the know.
If you want clean, accurate reproduction of your instrument’s voice without having to drag around a big heavy cabinet, this is the one for you - in fact those jolly clever chaps at AER will even include a deluxe flight bag.
Forget the shrill, hard sound of the competition and get something that actually sounds acoustic... but louder!
...
and apropos of nothing, but I finally seem to have revived my main audio recording machine....too much nonsense on there before...watch out for those innertube cookies you crazy kids! leave off those buggy video games! yeah yeah yeah...I think I'm going to replace the insides entirely in the coming year, but at least meantime I have a working recording studio again....it was very satisfying to rip out that wireless internet card....installations on deck: plug-ins, guitar rig2, vlc media player, and eventually a good video editing program...next up: guitar overdubs for a recent project of a friend of mine...
...
September 07, 2007
HEY LET'S KEEP THE INCOMPETENCE STREAK GOING
...just a few of his most outstanding qualities...
He knows how to run away from danger, that's for sure. And he knows how to lie. No question. But if you're a squeegee man, watch out he's gonna come whoop your ass.
why on Earth is he not a Mets fan? all the requisite neanderthal qualites are already instilled in such abundance....
...
September 06, 2007
SHINY
...the soul of a used machine...
I don't want to jinx anything, but I just initiated a paypal transaction for a slightly used german sound device which I expect will complete the acoustic guitar rig I planned several months ago. funny how things turn out. I'd been working my way up to shooting pictures of unused gear to sell on craigslist, various amps and cabinets and effects units that were gathering dust, to raise money for this initiative, when this deal sort of fell into my lap, at less than half of what I'd expected to lay out... no complaints!
somebody recently asked me when the "big change" was coming to this blog, when the promised music-only format would kick in...obviously I haven't devoted any time to it lately but then again I've been busy with various late summer family events, keeping myself available for a very pregnant mrs. stratcat, and dealing with a broken down DAW computer, now slowly coming back to life...and all the while trying to maintain my ongoing practice schedule/repertoire building. and my sleepy research gig just got ratcheted up by a factor of ten with a new assignment. so, will I ever tire of complaining? faster than you will reading it I promise but I think I'll wait until the deep freeze of indoorsy winter before I start with the web design learning curve....with the arrival of said sound device I'm sure I'll have plenty to say about it, depending on how it sounds, and I'll be delighted to offer my unvarnished point of view after connecting it to my roomful of six-strings...they say it's also a pretty tasty little device for electric jazz guitar....also upcoming: the revival of the DAW ought to remove the "closed for renovations" signage and get this here intertubes locale back to a service which reflects the output of a working musician. woodshedding is fine and it certainly has its place (and in the acoustic world that place is conveniently located outdoors!), but it's about time I got out and performed somewhere in the real world. after straining at the bit, gig-less for the past few years (ironically enough, while in a "band"), I'm ready. and now I'll have the technology to make it happen. stay tuned...
...
September 04, 2007
THE KING OF THE BOWERY
...heed the wise words of Daryl Jennifer...
over the past week or so since Hilly Kristal died, I've come across some really ignorant, misinformed, insultingly glib op-ed pieces about his legacy and the whole nyc punk rock wayback machine in general...I was even moved to pen a rebuttal to that jive-ass cracker over at huffington post (alex remington) who, from DC no less, cobbled together what must have struck him as reconstructed new york 'tude, but came off as a plagiarized rockjournalism term paper--that's right genius blondie and the ramones and the smell of piss I bet you bought the t-shirt...naturally my post was rejected...mine always are on that site hmmm...so anyway here's a nice counter to all that. someone asked the Bad Brains' record label if they had any comment on the passing of Hilly Kristal. In case you don't know, the Bad Brains were probably the fiercest group to come out of the entire nyc hardcore scene, or any scene for that matter. their recent DVD 'Bad Brains at CBGB 1982' is amazing. here's what they had to say about Hilly:
"The Brains didn't go to college... CBGB's was our university. Hilly was our head master. And although the music died back in the 50's with Holly and Richie...the punk lives with Hilly, Joey, Stiv and CB's. Forever is the spirit of Hilly and his punk rock. Thanks Hilly, we will all ways remember you as the don of punk and the king of the bowery...that serious looking nice guy....Jah lives... the Bad Brains."
...Hilly with Sofi, whose mother Louise booked all our gigs...
...