Oh, Pooh. You fucking bear.
Scattershot Points of Interest:
- Benazir Bhutto was assassinated today. For those who aren't current events/poli-sci geeks (which might well be everyone reading this but me), she was the former prime minister of Pakistan. While not without her faults (is there such thing as a pure politician?), she did a lot for the progressive movement in Pakistan, especially in the area of women's rights. She was also a moderate counterpoint to military-coup-leader-turned-President Musharraf, a guy who is far from either progressive or moderate. This is the guy that kept his country in a state of martial law some weeks ago, and is supported by the U.S. government for pretty much no other reason than the fact that he's OK with us being Iraq. Stellar. Anyway, hearing about the Bhutto assassination and how it will likely increase violence and chaos in Pakistan got me a-thinkin'. Why are people so resistant to the idea of peace? It's supposed to be this great goal that humanity is constantly striving for, and yet even today, after everything that's happened in our history (re: all the bloody conflicts leading up to and following the supposed "War To End All Wars"), there's still people that would much rather kill than coexist. Whether it's the Burmese people getting gunned down by their own government, or rationalizing a growing civil war as an "experiment in democracy," or some idiot blowing himself up to kill one woman (taking out many others in the process), it's like we still don't get it. Not a very good showing on the part of the human race; we never seem to learn anything. A pretty cynical thought, but there you go.
- Q101's been doing their "15 Years in 15 Days" countdown recently. At first, this was a good thing. I'd get in the car after a long day at work and hear Oasis, RHCP, Green Day, and Weezer all in a row. Beautiful. And then, something went terribly wrong: we got to the early 2000s. Listening to Q101 the last couple of days, I couldn't believe I never realized what a horrible period 2002-2003 was for alternative music. As evidence, I cite the following: Puddle of Mudd, Hoobastank, Nickelback, Jack Johnson, Coldplay, Seether, Default, Disturbed, Smile Empty Soul, Dave Matthews, Godsmack, Creed (I cringe just writing it), and others that I had obviously burned out of my memory. Now, if you're a fan of nu metal, "alternative" singer-songwriters, Coldplay (and I know I that some of my nearest and dearest are Coldplay fans - sorry guys!), or Scott Stapp (yes, he sucks so much that he is his own shitty genre), I don't mean to impugn your taste in music. And even if I do, hopefully you can take it in stride. What's really staggering is the total lack of variety in sound that I've heard over the last couple days. Was popular music really that... boring... in 2002 and 2003? There were a few bright spots today, among them Radiohead, singles from AFI's Sing The Sorrow, and the resurgent Jane's Addiction (the reason why I am currently listening to said band on my computer), but still, I can't believe alternative rock was so bland when I was in high school. Maybe that's the reason I pretty much only listened to Metallica, Nirvana, Oasis, and Green Day until junior/senior year. Goddamnit, I wish I hadn't lost my iTrip.
- Side note: hearing Godsmack had one redeeming quality, as it reminded me of seeing Metallica in '04 (they were the opener). Still, it also reminded me of their ridiculous double-drum-kit setup during that opening set. Sheesh.
- Other side note: Q101 has also been annoying me by constantly advertising the new American Pie movie (direct to DVD... what a shocker). Isn't it almost 2008? STOP MAKING THESE MOVIES. Please.
- I think I'm going to give Ian's Rock-Off another shot. I know I never finish it, but I swear I will this time. Maybe.
- That's all I've got. Wait... no, that's it.
- Benazir Bhutto was assassinated today. For those who aren't current events/poli-sci geeks (which might well be everyone reading this but me), she was the former prime minister of Pakistan. While not without her faults (is there such thing as a pure politician?), she did a lot for the progressive movement in Pakistan, especially in the area of women's rights. She was also a moderate counterpoint to military-coup-leader-turned-President Musharraf, a guy who is far from either progressive or moderate. This is the guy that kept his country in a state of martial law some weeks ago, and is supported by the U.S. government for pretty much no other reason than the fact that he's OK with us being Iraq. Stellar. Anyway, hearing about the Bhutto assassination and how it will likely increase violence and chaos in Pakistan got me a-thinkin'. Why are people so resistant to the idea of peace? It's supposed to be this great goal that humanity is constantly striving for, and yet even today, after everything that's happened in our history (re: all the bloody conflicts leading up to and following the supposed "War To End All Wars"), there's still people that would much rather kill than coexist. Whether it's the Burmese people getting gunned down by their own government, or rationalizing a growing civil war as an "experiment in democracy," or some idiot blowing himself up to kill one woman (taking out many others in the process), it's like we still don't get it. Not a very good showing on the part of the human race; we never seem to learn anything. A pretty cynical thought, but there you go.
- Q101's been doing their "15 Years in 15 Days" countdown recently. At first, this was a good thing. I'd get in the car after a long day at work and hear Oasis, RHCP, Green Day, and Weezer all in a row. Beautiful. And then, something went terribly wrong: we got to the early 2000s. Listening to Q101 the last couple of days, I couldn't believe I never realized what a horrible period 2002-2003 was for alternative music. As evidence, I cite the following: Puddle of Mudd, Hoobastank, Nickelback, Jack Johnson, Coldplay, Seether, Default, Disturbed, Smile Empty Soul, Dave Matthews, Godsmack, Creed (I cringe just writing it), and others that I had obviously burned out of my memory. Now, if you're a fan of nu metal, "alternative" singer-songwriters, Coldplay (and I know I that some of my nearest and dearest are Coldplay fans - sorry guys!), or Scott Stapp (yes, he sucks so much that he is his own shitty genre), I don't mean to impugn your taste in music. And even if I do, hopefully you can take it in stride. What's really staggering is the total lack of variety in sound that I've heard over the last couple days. Was popular music really that... boring... in 2002 and 2003? There were a few bright spots today, among them Radiohead, singles from AFI's Sing The Sorrow, and the resurgent Jane's Addiction (the reason why I am currently listening to said band on my computer), but still, I can't believe alternative rock was so bland when I was in high school. Maybe that's the reason I pretty much only listened to Metallica, Nirvana, Oasis, and Green Day until junior/senior year. Goddamnit, I wish I hadn't lost my iTrip.
- Side note: hearing Godsmack had one redeeming quality, as it reminded me of seeing Metallica in '04 (they were the opener). Still, it also reminded me of their ridiculous double-drum-kit setup during that opening set. Sheesh.
- Other side note: Q101 has also been annoying me by constantly advertising the new American Pie movie (direct to DVD... what a shocker). Isn't it almost 2008? STOP MAKING THESE MOVIES. Please.
- I think I'm going to give Ian's Rock-Off another shot. I know I never finish it, but I swear I will this time. Maybe.
- That's all I've got. Wait... no, that's it.